Although she spent 12 years dedicated to Chinese dancing, sophomore Jessica Kasper now spends her time practicing gymnastics.

“I’ve been doing [Chinese dancing] ever since I was two,” Kasper said.

She danced with about nine people of the same age, working on performances and technique. Her favorite performances either took place at the State Fair or during the halftime of football games.

Even though she enjoyed parts of Chinese dancing, she decided to quit.

“I didn’t really like it,” Kasper said, “I just kept with it because some of my friend were doing it.”

Kasper felt she wanted to do something different, and that something was gymnastics. Now, she has been doing gymnastics twice a week at Kenwood starting around the end of sixth grade.

According to Kasper, the skills and techniques she learned through her dancing experience is helping her in the transition from Chinese dance to gymnastics.

“For gymnastics you need flexibility and to point your toes. I learned all that from dance,” Kasper said. “It was all built in me, I didn’t need to think about it, I just did it and it looks better.”

Kasper enjoys gymnastics and her favorite part is performing floor routines with flips, back hand springs, and other similar activities.

She participates in gymnastics with two of her friends and about five other gymnasts.