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The Village of Pinecrest has launched its inaugural HaPPI Spotlight, a new feature of the Village’s HaPPI (Happy Pinecrest People Initiative) program. Designed to celebrate residents, business owners, and village staff who make Pinecrest a happier, more inclusive community, the Spotlight kicks off with an inspiring honoree: Karen Peterson Corash.
A Pinecrest resident for 36 years, Peterson is a national leader in inclusive dance. She has lived in the same home on 72nd Avenue since before Pinecrest was incorporated and has raised two sons and is the proud grandmother to three granddaughters – all dancers at Armour Dance Theatre.
“I moved to Pinecrest before it was even a village,” Peterson said. “It was just unincorporated Miami-Dade back then. This has always been home.”
In 1990, Peterson founded Karen Peterson and Dancers (KPD), a nonprofit dedicated to physically integrated dance. Her first choreography featured an actress who used a wheelchair.
“It was the first time a choreographer collaborated with a wheelchair performer on stage in Miami,” she recalled. “We didn’t know what the response would be, but it opened the door to more inclusive dance. Audiences began to think about who could be a performer.”
Through KPD, Peterson has organized annual showcases that feature both classically trained and physically integrated dancers. She also works extensively with Miami-Dade teenagers with special needs, helping shy and withdrawn students blossom through teamwork, music, and performance.
Peterson’s mentorship extends to young professional dancers, who gain firsthand understanding of the unique challenges faced by people with disabilities. After 35 years of leadership, Peterson sees a bright future for integrated dance and is currently collaborating with a filmmaker on a new project.
The Village’s HaPPI Spotlights are designed to recognize people like Peterson, but her story is just one of many that highlight Pinecrest’s deep commitment to inclusivity. Across the village, initiatives like the STARS Summer Camp give children with special needs a chance to build confidence and friendships, while spaces including the ADA-accessible playground, Sensory Learning Garden, Mini Zoo and Inspiration Center at Pinecrest Gardens, invite children and adults of all abilities to learn, laugh and play.
In Pinecrest, everyone has a place to shine. To nominate someone deserving of this recognition, visit www.pinecrest-fl.gov and search for HaPPI Spotlight.
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