Kara Eliason

Kara Eliason enters her second year as coach of the Hamline dance team. During the 2008-2009 season, she led the Pipers to a first-place finish in the DIII jazz category at the St. Thomas Invitational.

Hamline also competed against dance teams from across the Midwest at the Spirit of America Championship at the Mall of America and tied for 10th place in the college dance category.

Eliason comes to Hamline with more than 18 years of experience in dance and cheerleading. She is a certified dance instructor who has worked for Universal Dance Association (UDA) teaching dance camps and judging high school competitions across the Midwest.

Eliason is a 2007 graduate of the University of St. Thomas, where she was a member of the nationally-ranked dance team. She competed at the College Dance Team National Championships in Orlando, Fla., in both the jazz and hip-hop categories. As co-captain, she led the Tommies to their first national title in 2006. Eliason also appeared on national television during her dance career, including ESPN.

Eliason grew up admiring her grandfather, Donald Eliason, who graduated from Hamline University in 1942. Donald played baseball, basketball and football for the Pipers, and was a 1976 inductee to the University's athletics hall of fame. Kara feels proud to be a part of her grandfather's alma mater and its athletic department.

In addition to coaching dance, Eliason is a full-time editor for a Minneapolis-based magazine company.