Spread the Smile

A love for dance keeps a memory alive.

A dance workshop - "Spread the Smile: A Day of Dance to Connect the World One Smile at a Time" - will be Saturday in Decker Auditorium at Iowa Central Community College.

The workshop is offered by the Katie Lunn Memorial Fund, created in memory of the 26-year-old woman who was killed April 16, 2010, in a car-train accident in Chicago. She was the daughter of Julie and Jerry Lunn, of Manson.

"Katie's love for dance began when our family returned to Fort Dodge," Julie Lunn said. "She was in fifth grade and began taking dance at Hollingsworth Dance studio. Her love for people and teaching came early in life - she had a passion for the art of dance and decided in her senior year of high school that she wanted to pursue this as her career.

"She auditioned for Oklahoma City University in Oklahoma and was accepted into the program. She was so excited. After completing her four-year degree, she was offered a job at The School Of Performing Arts in Napperville, Ill. She accepted the position and began her passion. She also told Jerry and me, 'I am so lucky to be doing what I love.'"

Julie Lunn said one her daughter's favorite sayings was "Live. Always do what you love."

Then she added, "The great thing about Katie was she shared her love with others and truly did want to make a difference in the world and teach young students the passion she had for the art of dance."

Saturday's workshop will bring dance masters Kelly Beamish and Nick Drago to Fort Dodge.

Beamish, also a graduate of Oklahoma City University, is a featured perform in Ice Cube's comeback video and performed in Disney's "The High School Musical." She also has toured with the "Curtis Adams Magic that Rocks Show."

Drago, another graduate of Oklahoma City University, has appeared in music videos with Jessica Simpson, Duran Duran and Melody Gardot and has many acting credits and appearances in dance companies nationwide. He teaches and choreographs.

The day will include hip hop and jazz classes for students followed by a performance featuring those students both in the morning and in the afternoon. Morning sessions are for student ages 5 to 12, and afternoon sessions are for student 13 and older.

Cost of the workshop is $15. All proceeds will benefit the Katie Lunn Memorial Fund.

Julie Lunn said her daughter's message to everyone was to "fulfill our dreams and never forget to pay it forward" and this memorial fund has been established to do that.