KRISTEN GRETO
Interviewed by Hashika
May 23, 2020
Kristen: I was about 2 and a half when my mom first brought me to a dance class. I grew up dancing at my local studio, City Center Dance where I took about 5-7 classes in tap, jazz, ballet and hip hop. I tried some sports, but they weren’t for me and dance grew to be my passion very quickly. I danced about 5-6 days per week in high school between classes, rehearsals and performances.
Hashika: What’s your favorite part about performing?
Kristen: My favorite part of performing is knowing that I am spreading my craft and passion with others to make their experiences more enjoyable. Performing is so much fun. It’s such an adrenaline rush and when I’m dancing, I’m in my own world, it’s hard to explain, but there’s nothing really like that feeling.
I auditioned for the Brooklynettes multiple times before making it. the audition process is very rigorous. It’s a 4 day process - they look for great technique and choreography retention. They also conduct interviews and have a mock rehearsal to see how you work in a team environment. After going through the audition process two times before making it, when my name was called to make the team, it was even more special since I knew how hard it took to get there.
When I’m not dancing for the Nets, I am often teaching dance cardio and sculpt group fitness classes throughout the city, choreographing and working with different high school and college dance teams, taking classes and training on my own and also tap dancing. Fun fact: Tap is one of my favorite styles!
Kristen: Simultaneously while dancing in college during my senior year, I also danced for the Westchester Knicks Dance team, a G-league basketball team affiliated with the New York Knicks. I always wanted to become a dancer for the NBA and making this team was my stepping stone into the professional pro team world. I knew that the Westchester Knicks would help prepare and provide me with connections and skills I needed to achieve that goal.
Hashika: Do you think there are any misconceptions about what you do?
Kristen: I don’t think people realize how much blood, sweat and tears literally goes into being a dancer. From the creative thought process, choreography, rehearsals to clean and perfect the dances, and then turning them into a production with costumes or props to make them come to life. There’s a lot that goes into it! I’m also a true believer that dance helps in so many aspects of your life. It has taught me time management, organization, teamwork, leadership, creativity, and more; all skills that I use in everyday life too. as a dancer, we are also able to do things outside of our field. I was able to go to college, earn my BS and MBA and still dance and do what I love.
I just finished my third season with the Brooklynettes and I can honestly say it is such a rewarding job and has shaped me into the professional dancer I am today. We work with so many known choreographers, we learn many different styles, and we get to not only perform for thousands of people during games at Barclays Center, we also get to perform internationally. I’ve had the opportunity to travel and perform in China twice and most recently Mexico.
Hashika: How are you staying motivated right now? What does your life look like? Run us through a day in your life now?
Kristen: I’ve been using this time to relax. My schedule is pretty demanding and I’m constantly on the go and active almost every day between commuting to teach, attending rehearsals or running to game days. This time off has definitely helped relax my body. I normally wake up around 8:15 every morning, make coffee, and do some work on my computer for my alma mater. I work part time as a social media coordinator so I’ve been working from home. After work, I usually workout, FaceTime friends, go for a walk to get some fresh air or plan out personal projects that I’ve always wanted to do. I’ve taught a few live workout classes on Instagram and will be starting to teach a daily Zoom class soon.
Recently I’ve also been using iMovie to make dance reels, crafting my fitness and dance resumes, and I even do some arts and crafts and baking. I’ve been trying to stay creative and make the most of this time! Some days are harder than others to stay motivated, but the biggest thing I’ve learned is that it’s 100% okay to give yourself some days to be lazy. We’re human and this is all new for us. Do the best you can and keep staying positive.
