Future member of Windward Tai Chi Ohana
During Fall Break, Castle High School performing arts teacher Kelly Wadlegger stopped at Windward YMCA for a quick workout between errands. She was delighted to find a tai chi class she could join.
Kelly has a long history with Chinese martial arts: first learning Hung Gar kung fu (Southern Style) in New York, and then Chen Style tai chi in San Francisco. Inspired by her martial artist uncle, she loved the combination of body, movement, and energy.
Continuing to learn in Bangkok and Beijing, Kelly eventually shifted her sights toward earning a Master of Fine Arts in dance from the University of Hawaii. She destressed and rebalanced by practicing Yang Style tai chi with a University of Hawaii professor.
"I like the internal working with chi. It develops body, mind, and spirit," Kelly said after Kelvin’s class. She liked working on joint strength, the use of breath, the hidden martial aspects, and specific body placement.
Kelly uses her awareness of movement and flow to incorporate physical stunts and stage fights into her dance choreography for Manoa Valley Theatre.
Her primary job is teaching improvisational dance, acting, ballet, jazz, and musical theater to Castle High School students.
Currently, the Castle DanceForce students are working on an exciting production of original fairy tales that have some mild violence (particularly Red Riding Hood and Little Mermaid). The show will run December 5-6 at 7 p.m. at the Ronald E. Bright Theatre in Castle High School. Tickets are available online at ShowTix4U.
Hopefully, Kelly will join the Windward tai chi class during all her school breaks.
By Wendi Lau