A Beautiful Balance
After stretching her mind in biochemistry classes, CALS junior Kara Pawlowski exercises her creativity as a State Dance Company member and choreographer.
As a child, Kara Pawlowski danced in her room, making up routines and performing all of the parts herself.
“I’ve always just had an inclination toward choreography,” she says. “I’ve danced seriously since I was 12, which is actually a pretty late start for dancers—you’re supposed to dance the second you’re born. But then I did competitive dance for about eight years, and that led me right up into college.”
“I’m always looking for opportunities to grow and explore biochemistry in a new light.”
The latest works from Pawlowski’s imagination are coming to life on stage at North Carolina State University with State Dance Company, led by Tara Mullins. In fact, Pawlowski’s initial choreography project won a Creative Arts Award in dance from Arts NC State. Pawlowski came to NC State from the Charlotte area to major in chemistry.
Because of her interest in plants and agriculture, she gravitated toward biochemistry in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. In addition to studying six hours daily for her classes, she’s started working in a CALS genetics lab to help find the best maize for cereal makers.
She also curates a walking tour of JC Raulston Arboretum that explains the chemical structure and medicinal uses of various plants.
“I’m always looking for opportunities to grow and explore biochemistry in a new light,” Pawlowksi says.
A demanding schedule makes her dancing essential. “Dance is an incredible break from all the academic stress,” Pawlowski says. “Everyone in the company, almost, is a STEM major, so we can all relate to each other in that way. And it’s just a true release from all that. You don’t have to think about microbiology or genetics or organic chemistry when you’re dancing, which is nice. For me, it is definitely a creative outlet. I could not do school if I didn’t have dance.”
Pawlowski performs and teaches her choreography to others in the company, with support from fine arts faculty and visiting guest artists.
Her first staged piece, “Complexities of Loneliness,” represents the struggle with an emotion she’s had to work through herself.
Three State Company dancers, Savanah Buck, Madison Kotyra and Kellsie Jennings, perform dressed as mimes—lonely characters. Two of the women have heart symbols on their costumes.
“Savanah, who I call the main mime and who doesn’t have the heart, is on a journey of finding self-contentment,” Pawlowski says.
But it isn’t necessary to know Pawlowski’s intent to enjoy the 6-minute performance piece.
“I do hope people see that she’s missing something in the beginning, and then she gets it at the end,” Pawlowski says. “They can kind of fill in the blanks of what they think that means.”
As Pawlowski continues her studies, the next steps of her career are becoming clearer.
“I would love to work in a lab and maybe go to grad school to get a master’s to be a leader in a lab position.”
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