Graduation Spotlight: Karagan Weld, Dance Science
Friday will mark the end of one journey and the beginning of another for Karagan Weld.
The senior dance science major will be honored as a distinguished student at a Friday afternoon ceremony for the School of Performance, Visualization and Fine Arts at Geren Auditorium, then walk the Reed Arena stage to receive her diploma later that night. She’ll then start a three-year doctoral program in occupational therapy this summer at Texas Woman’s University in Dallas.
Dance has been a part of Weld’s life since age 4. The San Antonio native attended North East School of the Arts, a magnet program, and was classically trained in ballet, jazz, hip hop, lyrical and pointe. An equal appreciation for science led her to Texas A&M University.
“The program caught my eye because I love both dance and science,” she said. “I knew that I wanted to make that into a career but didn’t know how I would do that. Once I heard about dance science, I knew I wanted to do it because I would be able to continue my love for dancing while getting a science degree.”
Among the highlights through Weld’s college career is the “Perpetual Motion” performance during her junior year, as the students grew close throughout the rehearsal process. Dance courses were always fun experiences, she said: “We were able to learn but we were always getting up and experimenting with the person next to us.”
The program helped Weld to develop a kinesthetic awareness, which was key in helping her to decide on a career path. Knowledge of anatomy and being able to apply movements of muscles to movements of the body connect directly with occupational therapy, she said.
“This dance science program made me realize how similar teaching dance is to the field of occupational therapy,” she said. “Because through rehabilitation, through relearning how to move through therapy, you are teaching the body how to move. The experience that I’ve had teaching dance — as the teacher or as the student — it’s really applicable to other things in life, but especially what I’m doing with occupational therapy school.”
Weld said she felt “so honored” when she received word of the Distinguished Student Award and credited the dance faculty members for their help and guidance.
“All the professors are just incredible human beings,” she said. “They all have big hearts, and they love each student like they’re family. They’re some of the funniest and most genuine people I know. I admire their hard work and their dedication to their job. They are true geniuses in the field of dance science.”
