Meet Navajo Prep volleyball player and dancer Kimora Pettigrew
FARMINGTON, N.M. — Kimora Pettigrew is a talented student-athlete attending Navajo Preparatory School in her junior year. She has been dancing for eleven years, adding en pointe to her practice four years ago. She also plays volleyball for Navajo Prep Lady Eagles, with her team winning the district championship and making it to the state tournament. She also excels in her studies and welcomes opportunities to be involved in programs such as Natural Helpers, a peer-to-peer counseling program. Kimora has also decided to pursue being an international baccalaureate candidate, which expands the traditional high school diploma by teaching critical and independent thought.
Kimora enjoys trying new sports and activities, knowing the experiences will benefit her in different ways. As she enjoys her activities and creates opportunities for herself, she always keeps in mind who around her is looking up to her, who may be watching, and how she can positively impact them.
With dance, she shares that the biggest challenge is often consistency. She focuses on consistency with her technique, performance, and working to stay in shape. Between her studio classes at Ann Marie’s Dance Academy and taking advantage of the studio space at the Health and Human Performance Center at San Juan College, she spends a lot of time stretching and strength training.
Kimora loves collaborating in the choreographic process, saying, “Expressing myself and sharing my craft with others through performing has always been my favorite thing to do.” During a summer intensive class in Durango, a piece of advice Kimora has retained is to do everything like you’re performing. Whether it’s warmup at the bar, center work, technique work, or choreography, it is most beneficial to give it your all as if you are performing each moment.
When prepping for volleyball, Kimora’s work ethic is the same: stretching, listening to music to focus, and deciding what she will implement into playing. In each game, she focuses on something different depending on where she is playing. Before games, she will often see some of her family members who are there to support her, and if they have concession snacks, she requires they share a piece with her, calling it “Kim Tax” for the game.
Outside of dance and volleyball, Kimora likes to read mainly mystery and thriller novels and play video games with friends on the weekends away from school. She has also tried musical theater and modeling, enjoying both of them. Spending the weekend shopping or window-shopping or going out to lunch with her mom is also her favorite time.
With a bright future ahead no matter where she decides to focus her talent, Kimora shares, “I think the best advice I was given was to take my time, to take opportunities, to travel, and to experience things. Not everything has to be done all at once.”
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