Daniel Klinkhammer 'can't be stopped'

On any given day, Rochester Dance Company Co-Artistic Director Daniel Klinkhammer might be seen busting a few moves to whatever music is playing at the grocery or elsewhere around town.

Klinkhammer, who was born and raised in Rochester and departed to earn a BFA in dance from the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, said he is more than happy to be back. After initially being with Byron Dance Academy and The Dance Lab, Klinkhammer said, he is thrilled to be co-directing with his lifelong friend Morgan Olson.

"In our time with the company," he said, "we have nearly tripled the number of dancers in the organization. We both feel honored to give back to our local dance community in our annual production of 'The Nutcracker' that we know was so important to our growth as dancers and such a holiday tradition."

He added, "When I am not teaching or rehearsing seven days a week, I work part time as a barista at Café Steam. And when I am not doing that, I can usually be found watching scary movies in the hobbit hole that is my home."

Please describe your style.

I would say it is comfortable and maybe just a little bit outlandish. Not like I am totally off my rocker, but a little out there as far as Rochester might be concerned.

And a little more.

As a dancer by trade, I mostly wear things that I can move in. Jeans are my absolute archnemesis. I cannot stand wearing jeans. When I am at the grocery store and I hear the song that's playing over the speaker and I feel the urge to dance, I need to be able to do that even if it's just a little bit of a shoulder shimmy. So, I am almost always wearing sweatpants and a baggy T-shirt or, when it gets a little colder, a flannel or oversized sweatshirt. This stubborn horse can't be stopped.

Memorable influences?

I have a college professor who once told us, "You all take yourselves far too seriously for people who spend their whole lives wearing pajamas." And I thought, you know, you have a really good point. So I try to be comfortable, but also wear something that perhaps can spark a conversation or something that can give me or the audience that I encounter in my daily life a chuckle.

What do you hope your style says about you?

When I am out and about, I attempt to look a little more professional, a little toned down and comfortable. When I know I have to step on stage before shows, I usually swallow my pride and put on a pair of jeans and a button up shirt of some capacity, usually that's a Minnesota lumberjack flannel. That's about as fancy as we get around here.

Anything you hope your style communicates to your students?

That, yes, I am an adult, but I am not an adult who will discipline you for X-Y-Z. That I am safe person to talk to and that I don't take myself totally seriously all the time.

Any coveted items?

I still have a huge bucket of band T-shirts from high school that live under my bed because they don't fit me anymore, but I am too sentimental to get rid of them.

Do you carry a bag of any sort?

No. When I'm going to the studio, I carry my backpack with notepad and computer for playing music. But when I'm going out and about, I need to be able to move and having anything extra on me is going to slow me down from busting a move in aisle 12.

And for footwear?

I used to really enjoy dancing barefoot, but now that I have been doing this for as long as I have my feet and my ankles are saying, ummm, sir you need to take care of your body a little. So in addition to taping my feet and ankles, I like a shoe that has adequate support. Sneakers help. For style though, I love me a good Doc Martens boot.

Parting thoughts?

Be comfortable and confident. Being comfortable will help you with the confidence part.