Violeta Galagarza's Story:

It's my faith that has brought me to where I am today: Director of KR3TS, dancer, choreographer, counselor, event coordinator, consultant, costume designer and most importantly - a mom with three boys.

My story began when I was 3 days old when I was adopted by my aunt, whom I call 'Mom.' I never learned who my biological father was.

Despite the tough start, I have to say that I ended up with the best parents I could have had under the circumstances, but things weren't always easy. One of my earliest recollections of my life's many trials and tribulations began when I was three years old and we were homeless.  A kind friend took us in, a man who would ultimately become my mother's husband of 13 years until his untimely death in 1995. We had no furniture when we started our new life, but we did the best we could - sleeping on doors on the floor before graduating to real beds.

Even as a young girl, I always knew I wanted to dance, from the time I practiced the Hustle with my brothers and sisters in our tiny living room. From the time I was seven, I tried the best I could, attending school and being accepted for a scholarship at Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater for four years. Unfortunately, I hadn't really learned about the things I really needed to know about life.

When I was 15, no one talked about things such as sex education or protecting yourself. Not knowing any better, I got pregnant at the age of 15. My mom was of the belief that I really needed to have the child - no ifs, ands or buts. At the time, I was incredibly upset with myself because I wanted to finish my studies at High School of the Performing Arts. With my pregnancy, that would be out of the question. But the pregnancy didn't stop me from my dream of dance. I found ways to stay in arts circles, staying focused, strong and away from negativity. But things would not end there. By 1995, I had two sons (the second one from a now-dissolved marriage) and had lost my brother and my father to unnecessary gun-related deaths. To this day, we still don't know who killed them or why. While this period was very difficult, it made me stronger and gave me a greater desire to be more involved in the community. 

I went through some difficult times in my adult life - I've gone through three relationships that turned out to be abusive, filled with rage and jealousy.  But through it all, dance kept me from going backwards. The odds may not have been in my favor. I was a single mom without a diploma, an ex-dancer who had gained weight and could have had low self-esteem. But I have never given up and I never will give up my continued passion - dance.

For me, KR3TS is a culmination of everything I have ever wanted to do or be: a dance company with a purpose: to promote positive activities among youths from the neighborhood I grew up and live in. I began the group at the age of 18 in 1989, and incorporated as a non-profit in 1995. I demand commitment, discipline and maturity of my dancers - and they have never disappointed me. Since then, the news has spread about my dancing, my choreography and the work at the community center.

While the company may have gotten bigger and I now see students from all over come to dance with my group, I know that the name or purpose of the group will not change: Keep Rising To The Top!

Where there's a will, there's a way.
Don't give up in life!
Don't let anyone tell you that you can't.
Have great Faith.

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