Help Kari dance again
Donation protected
Hi, friends!

My name is Kari. I've been a dancer for almost all my life. I had my first professional dance job when I was 16, and shared the stage with Neil Armstrong (he is a wonderful person!) I graduated from Hope College in Holland, Michigan, with a double major in dance and psychology. I followed my dreams by moving to Austin, Texas to dance and choreograph professionally, and I've lived an incredible journey along the way. I've danced with Kanye West, Weird Al, and scaled tall buildings as an aerialist with Blue Lapis Light.
The JW Marriott in downtown Austin, TX
I'm also a teacher at many wonderful places: Pure Barre Austin, Dance Austin, Blue Lapis Light, and Infinite Recovery. It is my passion to empower people with movement.
In 2011, I was rear-ended by an 18 wheeler coming back from a visit to Sea World. I suffered debilitating pain, numbness in one leg, and subsequent immobility from two bulging discs in my lower back; my ability to dance changed tremendously. I was still able to do aerial work (with lots of pain,) but not much dance on the ground. I had chiropractic, physical therapy, acupuncture, theraputic massage, and steroid injections, all to no avail. I saw numerous doctors, and they all said this was something I would have to manage the rest of my life. The only step left was surgery, which would be the nail in the coffin of my able-bodied life (and only has a 50% success rate.)
As my pain got too intense, I tried modeling. Notice I'm not putting much weight on my injured right leg.
When I didn't think things could get much worse, I tore the labrum of my right hip due to the instability of my lumbar vertebrae and pelvis. (The labrum is a piece of cartilage that acts like a gasket holding the hip socket in place.) Now, my ability to teach, work, or move through daily routines like standing long enough to cook a meal is affected. I lost all hope of recovery and a pain free life.
Through some coaxing of dear friends, I found the light at the end of the tunnel. I was referred to two incredible doctors that can help me on the road to recovery.
The first, Dr. Chris Sellers at Performance Wellness, is a mastermind bodyworker. He properly diagnosed my injury and he and his skilled staff are helping me re-learn how to move as I rehabilitate my entire lower body. I've been in PT with him for 9 weeks, and slowly starting to see progress and lesser pain levels.
The second, Dr. Ben Rawson at CHARM (Center for Healing and Regenerative Medicine) is a leading practitioner of regenerative medicine. (A Moscow Ballet prima ballerina flew to Austin just to work with him!) By getting what's called platelet-rich plasma injections, I can actually heal the damaged areas in my hip and back. (My amazing chiropractor Dr. Daniel Gonzalez at Family Health Chiropractic has seen an 80% success rate in his patients who have received PRP treatment.)
Unfortunately, getting the best care possible is expensive, and this is why I need your help. The funds raised will cover the debt I've accrued paying for PT, and will allow me to proceed with regenerative injections.(The PRP injections cost ~$1000 per injection, and Dr. Ralston estimates I'll need a minimum of 6 and upwards of 10.)
We have only 30 days to meet the goal - please consider donating what you can. It's true that every little bit helps, and I will be grateful from the depths of my heart to not only be pain free while walking, sitting, or standing, but to live again. I finally have hope that I can live a normal and pain free life, and with your help I may one day dance again. (If you'd like to see more of my work and the art you'd be supporting, you can go here, here, here, and here !)
I'm eternally grateful for your consideration and support of my health and well-being. With love and gratitude, thank you!
Help me do the splits again!
Photo credit (in order): Bonnie & Lauren , Sabrina Nicole Photography , Earl McGehee , Pinkletoes , Earl McGehee
My name is Kari. I've been a dancer for almost all my life. I had my first professional dance job when I was 16, and shared the stage with Neil Armstrong (he is a wonderful person!) I graduated from Hope College in Holland, Michigan, with a double major in dance and psychology. I followed my dreams by moving to Austin, Texas to dance and choreograph professionally, and I've lived an incredible journey along the way. I've danced with Kanye West, Weird Al, and scaled tall buildings as an aerialist with Blue Lapis Light.
The JW Marriott in downtown Austin, TXI'm also a teacher at many wonderful places: Pure Barre Austin, Dance Austin, Blue Lapis Light, and Infinite Recovery. It is my passion to empower people with movement.
In 2011, I was rear-ended by an 18 wheeler coming back from a visit to Sea World. I suffered debilitating pain, numbness in one leg, and subsequent immobility from two bulging discs in my lower back; my ability to dance changed tremendously. I was still able to do aerial work (with lots of pain,) but not much dance on the ground. I had chiropractic, physical therapy, acupuncture, theraputic massage, and steroid injections, all to no avail. I saw numerous doctors, and they all said this was something I would have to manage the rest of my life. The only step left was surgery, which would be the nail in the coffin of my able-bodied life (and only has a 50% success rate.)
As my pain got too intense, I tried modeling. Notice I'm not putting much weight on my injured right leg.When I didn't think things could get much worse, I tore the labrum of my right hip due to the instability of my lumbar vertebrae and pelvis. (The labrum is a piece of cartilage that acts like a gasket holding the hip socket in place.) Now, my ability to teach, work, or move through daily routines like standing long enough to cook a meal is affected. I lost all hope of recovery and a pain free life.
Through some coaxing of dear friends, I found the light at the end of the tunnel. I was referred to two incredible doctors that can help me on the road to recovery.
The first, Dr. Chris Sellers at Performance Wellness, is a mastermind bodyworker. He properly diagnosed my injury and he and his skilled staff are helping me re-learn how to move as I rehabilitate my entire lower body. I've been in PT with him for 9 weeks, and slowly starting to see progress and lesser pain levels.
The second, Dr. Ben Rawson at CHARM (Center for Healing and Regenerative Medicine) is a leading practitioner of regenerative medicine. (A Moscow Ballet prima ballerina flew to Austin just to work with him!) By getting what's called platelet-rich plasma injections, I can actually heal the damaged areas in my hip and back. (My amazing chiropractor Dr. Daniel Gonzalez at Family Health Chiropractic has seen an 80% success rate in his patients who have received PRP treatment.)
Unfortunately, getting the best care possible is expensive, and this is why I need your help. The funds raised will cover the debt I've accrued paying for PT, and will allow me to proceed with regenerative injections.(The PRP injections cost ~$1000 per injection, and Dr. Ralston estimates I'll need a minimum of 6 and upwards of 10.)
We have only 30 days to meet the goal - please consider donating what you can. It's true that every little bit helps, and I will be grateful from the depths of my heart to not only be pain free while walking, sitting, or standing, but to live again. I finally have hope that I can live a normal and pain free life, and with your help I may one day dance again. (If you'd like to see more of my work and the art you'd be supporting, you can go here, here, here, and here !)
I'm eternally grateful for your consideration and support of my health and well-being. With love and gratitude, thank you!
Help me do the splits again! Photo credit (in order): Bonnie & Lauren , Sabrina Nicole Photography , Earl McGehee , Pinkletoes , Earl McGehee
Organizer
Kari Burke
Organizer
Austin, TX