Ernesto in Motion

More Ernesto

ERNESTO PALMA

Born  in  Alajuela,  Costa  Rica  Ernesto  came  to  the  United  States  in   2001.

The youngest of four children, Ernesto learned to cook and take care of himself at the early age of five while his brother and sisters were at school. His mother, a single parent, worked hard to provide life’s necessities and an education for her children. During his high school years Ernesto danced in the yearly talent show.

Favorite past times for Ernesto include roller skating, volleyball, traveling, shopping and "club" dancing. He has no pets but remembers "Nato", the family rottweiler from his high school years. Ernesto misses the tropical environment of his country and says a perfect weekend would be to "lie and tan on the beach." In fact his ideal vacation spot would be the beautiful beaches of Costa Rica.

Ernesto taught ballroom dancing at TC Dance Club in Kansas City for three years before the call of his talent and ambition led him to pursue the bright lights of New York City and the hard path of study with the prestigious Alvin Ailey School of Dance.

He currently teaches at the Stepping Out Dance Studio in the heart of NYC.

His favorite dance is the Salsa. He enjoyed teaching dance because "it’s the only art form that can allow one’s personal feelings inside to be expressed through creative dancing." Ernesto hopes he taught his students to interpret the music on their own – "to feel it!" He prefers current pop or "club" music he can dance to using his own unique style.

If Ernesto could choose another occupation he would be an actor or mathematics teacher. His favorite color is blue and his worst pet peeve is "when people are in my way while I’m driving." He enjoys "pigging out" on beans and rice. Ernesto likes carpentry and creating anything from "lamps to beds." If he could have dinner with a famous person (dead or alive) it would be Juan Gabriel or his favorite singer, Anastacia. He believes Juan Gabriel is the best composer and singer in Latin America, and also enjoys the song writing and singing style of Anastacia.

Ernesto's Kansas City students all agree they learned a great deal about dancing from him, and his choreography for their dance routines was outstanding.  Several of them showed their appreciation and fondness for him . . . Lee Ann's cookies, Rose's chicken soup and banana bread, Bev's Peach Truffle, Mocha Lattes from Lena and Madeline's sewing.  They miss him very much!

Ernesto feels the three words that best describe his personality are: honest, cranky, and "perra" (moody).  His Kansas City students agree!