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Kim Holmes

For the last 20 years, Kim Holmes has emerged as one of the premiere, influential luminaries of the urban dance movement with unparalleled vibrancy, sensuality, and versatility. This legendary, leading lady and vanguard of Hip-Hop dance culture, has sought to redefine the face of the hip hop/urban dance movement as a heavily sought after dancer, choreographer, and Founder and Artistic Director of the critically acclaimed, Universal Dance Movement. Along with her formal training in traditional dance forms of African, Ballet, Jazz, Modern, and Contemporary, to name a few, Kim became intensely mesmerized by the pulsating energy of contemporary urban dance as expressed within forms of Hip-Hop and House. Her evolving intrigue in hip hop and house led her to an opportunity to tour and work with some of the top performers and influential artists within the music industry, including Jay-z, Foxy Brown, Lil Kim, Missy Elliot, Salt n Pepa, Mya, Yummy Bingham, Deemi, Dance Fusion, Kr3t’s and a plethora of others. Kim’s rise within the hip-hop with her unique, stand-out, lively performances would lead her to collaborate with some of the most prominent choreographers throughout entertainment including Laurieann Gibson, Brian “Footwork” Green, Rhapsody James, Eartha Robinson, Marjory Smarth, Ejoe Wilson, Mickey Davidson, Abdel Salaam, Ron Brown, Rennie Harris, to name a few, earning her the reputation and title as the “Josephine Baker of Hip-Hop.”

In addition to her work throughout the Hip-Hop industry, Ms. Holmes has also collaborated with a number of contemporary dance companies such as Mickey D and Friends, Opus Dance Theatre, Nanette Bearden Contemporary Dance theatre, and World Soul. She is a much sought after teaching artist providing international and state-wide master class level instruction for prestigious dance institutions such as the Alvin Ailey's Arts in Education & Community Programs, Peridance, and The Opus Dance Theatre Outreach Program and now her own company Universal Dance Movement which is devoted to exploration of movement, stories, and healing through dance emphasizing and reflecting her own diverse dance background. Performance season 2009/10 saw Ms. Holmes reemergence to bring her worldly experience, diversity and expertise to an array of multiple projects including The Ladies Get Down (LGD) Tribute, a Master’s Dance Class Workshop in Hip Hop; serving as Assistant Choreographer for the Berkelee College of Music’s Tribute to Michael Jackson; the Dance New Amsterdam Project, a roots of hip-hop extravaganza; an ensemble performance at the Yo International Dance Festival in Italy; and as the producer, choreographer and director of the premiere of her own work, The Evolution of K.I.M., an autobiographical journey through dance. Dancer, Choreographer, Teacher, Producer, and Director this leading lady never ceases to amaze audiences worldwide as she accepts the challenge of conquering different facets of entertainment to continue to contribute and uphold the legacy of urban dance. Kim’s philosophy of dance, “Dance is a world of movement which allows us to express all emotions and gives us a sense of ability to release, heal and be free spirits.” Her artistry, talent and skill will forever be focused on the expression of movement to inspire people of all ages to love life and commit to a legacy of living to the fullest. There is no room for mediocrity only Greatness!