About Me

My name is Kenzie! I am a lover of dance, cats, and salty foods. I am a life-long Oregonian and a proud OSU graduate (go beavs!) I enjoy good music, food, and time
spent with my family and friends.

My Background

I was put in my first ballet class when I was just three years old, and I’ve been dancing ever since! Through my childhood and teen years I was a dedicated studio-dance kid, learning everything from jazz and tap to lyrical and hip-hop. I also had the opportunity to attend Young Musicians and Artists (YMA) camp, developing skills in modern and African dance.

I loved performing and competing in dance, including on my high school dance team
where I became a team captain and made the DDCA All-State Team. In college and into my early twenties, I continued taking classes that inspired me and helped me explore new ways to move. During and after the pandemic, I stepped away from dance for a time and truly felt its absence in my life. In 2024, I was introduced to PulsePDX, and I was overjoyed to reconnect with dance in a new way. This year, as I turn 30, I’m excited to enter a new decade continuing to move, grow, and express myself through the joy of dance!

What First Brought Me To PulsePDX

The first time I went to PulsePDX, it was with a (somewhat) new friend. Fittingly, we had met on a dance floor during a night out. We were both breaking it down, having way too much fun, and immediately bonded. After that night, we started spending more time together, and she invited me to join her for a class at PulsePDX. From there, I was hooked! I’m happy to say that Maddie and I still take any chance we can to get out on the dance floor and break it down together. It is a powerful reminder that dance has a
way of bringing people together, and can turn strangers into the best of friends.

What I Like About WERQ

WERQ is so much fun and seriously good exercise! I love that you can modify the moves based on how you’re feeling that day. You have options that allow you to turn up the intensity or stay at a moderate exercise level. Whether you’re looking for a full, super sweaty workout or just want to move and shake your booty, WERQ is a great way to feel good and have fun!

Why You Should Try My Class

I hope to inspire the same kind of magic I felt in my very first class at PulsePDX! A playful, fun, and energizing experience where you can let go and move in ways that feel true to you.

When I’m Not Teaching

When I’m not teaching, it can be hard to track me down! I love keeping busy and feel energized and at my best when my calendar is full. I am passionate about my family, friends, work, and giving back to my community.

During the weekdays, you’ll find me at RoseVilla Senior Living, a vibrant 25-acre retirement community where I serve as Director of Communications & Marketing. My commitment to working with older adults also extends to my board service with SAGE: Senior Advocates for Generational Equity, where I support efforts to inspire older adults to give forward, so future generations can thrive.

Outside of work and volunteering, I love traveling, spending time outdoors, and trying new places to eat! I feel incredibly lucky to have a large, close-knit extended family nearby, and I cherish time with them and my friends. At the end of a full day, I’m happiest curled up on the couch with my husband and our two cats, watching a movie or getting lost in a good book.

Something That Would Surprise People

I started playing piano at five years old and studied with the same teacher all the way
through age 18, taking weekly lessons for 13 years before heading off to college. I trained in classical music and participated in competitions throughout my childhood and teen years. While I am no longer dedicated to learning new music, I do enjoy breaking out the pieces I love and know by heart when I want to surprise someone!

My Guilty Pleasure

Taco Bell. It’s not that I feel guilty eating it… I feel guilty that I make my husband drive
there so often.