Karen Fama still has the formal gown she wore as a Mountain State Forest Festival princess in 1955.

“It was a wonderful week as a princess,” Fama recalled. “When you are young, it’s a really big deal. I remember what a thrill it was to be escorted at the ball by a VPI escort. It’s a wonderful experience for any girl who gets to participate.”

This year, Fama, owner of Karen’s Academy of Dance in Beckley, took her Karenettes Dance and Drill Team to perform in the 73rd Mountain State Forest Festival. Although corps members have changed over the years, the Karenettes have performed at the festival for 35 consecutive years.

“It’s a thrill for us to know there are people there who look for us every year and who love to see us come and perform, but it’s even more rewarding to see our girls do so well and to know other people love and respect them for what they do,” Fama said.

Fama and her team were featured in this year’s edition of the magazine prepared in conjunction with the festival. She had been asked to submit a brief personal history and photos of the teams, past and present.

“We have quite a history there,” she said. “In 1974, I asked if the Karenettes could participate, and we were accepted. We left on a bus at 4:30 a.m., and during the day, the girls competed in strutting, twirling and all-round competitions. When they posted the winners, the Karenettes took first place in twirling, strutting and dance routines. Boy, were we excited about that.”

Participation became an annual event, with the Karenettes making quite a name for themselves.

“We won every year. When we first started, there were probably about 100 majorette corps that participated. It got to the point that bands with majorettes wouldn’t compete any more if they knew we were coming,” Fama said.

Eventually, the contests were discontinued, but the dance and drill team participated in the parade and delighted crowds with their performances, she added.

“It takes a lot of time and discipline to learn to do what they do, and it shows when they perform. People can see how much effort they’ve put into it.”

At 73, Fama finds herself marching in time with the annual count of the festival itself. “My age is the same as the year number for the festival every year.”

Born in Oak Hill, Fama followed her love of dancing and wound up in New York City, where she studied in dance under Jack Stanley, the legendary choreographer who taught celebrities such as Fred Astaire and Gene Kelly.

A landmark experience presented itself when she performed for one season with the high-stepping Radio City Music Hall Rockettes.

A year later, she returned to Beckley and became a dance teacher.

Fifty-plus years and thousands of students later, Fama is still helping adults and children kick up their heels every chance she gets.

“Dancing has taught me so much about life, relationships and the virtues worth living by. Do everything for the right reason, which I feel is to love and have passion for whatever you do. It is very rewarding to pass that on to another generation through the children I teach,” she said.

She teaches nine classes a week and especially enjoys one with a group of adults.

“Dancing is fun. It’s good exercise. It’s a time when we can get together and work off some stress and enjoy the exercise,” she said.

Despite the relaxed attitudes of many young people today, Fama finds her students motivated by the discipline required for the precision that marks their routines.

“Kids need discipline with love. That’s always been my standard here. My kids know I love them, and they also know what I expect of them. They give me back their love and dedication. It’s just very, very rewarding,” she said.

— E-mail: bdavis@register-herald.com