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FL's dancing star comes home
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Wednesday, 27 August 2008
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Jennifer Larson
Community Editor
Kourtni Lind may be a shining star but show business has not changed the Forest Lake native.
A finalist on the hit-television show “So You Think You Can Dance,” she was in Minnesota this past month on a vacation. Well, sort of.
Much of her two-week stay Aug. 11-25 was spent instructing at the dance studio owned by her mom, Robin Lind.
Kourtni was eliminated from the competition airing on the FOX network during the live results episode on July 3. She and dance partner, Matt Dorame, became the seventh and eight finalists to exit the fourth season of SYTYCD.
The show wrapped up with the finale on Aug. 7. The Top 20 danced as a group, performing the judge’s favorite dances.
Lind said she was disappointed that Stephen Boss, aka Twitch, was named runner-up. Joshua Allen was chosen as America’s favorite dancer and the recipient of a $250,000 cash prize.
On Wednesday, Aug. 20, Lind was teaching students in the summer intensive class a routine choreographed by Shane Sparks to “Boom” by Sin. The dance was performed during the final show.
“I wanted to share some of my experience and knowledge with them (the students),” Lind said.
While at home, she also choreographed six solo’s for girls who take classes at Dance Tech Studio. The students will perform the routines at the Midwest Starz National Dance Competition.
Samantha Sykora is one of those lucky young women who will be showcasing Lind’s choreography. A Forest Lake resident, she is enrolled at the Saint Paul Conservatory for Performing Artists.
Sykora has been receiving instruction for the last six years at the studio located at 79 S. Lake St.
“Kourtni is just so fun to watch,” added Marissa Sykora, the mother of Samantha.
After getting ousted last month, Lind has been very busy with life changes and new opportunities. She’s moved into a new place in Hollywood, which the 18-year-old will share with two of her girlfriends.
On Aug. 31, Lind will be traveling for the first time abroad for a job in London. The offer came about through contacts much closer to the home front by way of Amber Moelter, a former student of the dance studio.
“I just got booked for a music video there,” she said, noting the project is for an indie film.
And Lind is excited about earning money. She noted that eliminated contestants from this season were paid for their performance at the “So You Think You Can Dance” finale as they were considered “working professionals.”
“We got a lot more than I expected, which was nice,” Lind said.
But her trip wasn’t all work and no play. She had the chance to catch up with family and friends. Lind especially enjoyed seeing her grandma too. Kourtni visited with her grandma, Irene Lind, and her friends over coffee at McDonalds on Monday, Aug. 18.
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