Kimberly Gladysz has been evolving as a dancer since her childhood. As a practitioner of ashtanga yoga and a dance therapist (M.A. of Naropa University) she weaves healing, dance, and indigenous earth wisdom. During her Somatic Psychology training at Naropa, she focused on our body systems and their links to our emotional, psychological and spiritual growth. Her thesis explores the power of dance ritual. Ten years ago, Kimberly immediately fell in love with West African dance and dove into studies with world renowned dancers and drummers of Les Ballet Africains, in New York City. To enrich her experience of West African traditional dance and kora music she traveled to Guinea, West Africa. Upon her return, she created a multi-arts-in education program, DanceAfricaLive, which educates public elementary school students about West African history, culture and dance. This troupe has toured throughout the states of Virginia, New York, and Hawaii. Her deep respect for indigenous ways of life have brought her to travel and to practice ritual with healers and dancers in the Native North American, Tibetan Buddhist, Polynesian, Peruvian, Brazilian, West African and Mayan traditions. She gives thanks and feels much gratitude for the many kindred spirits and teachers who have inspired her path. She currently lives in Kauai, Hawaii to further explore Polynesian dance and culture. She has been teaching, choreographing and performing dance for over twenty years. She has also worked as a child & family therapist and elementary school teacher in the community for over twelve years. Her gift is a unique offering of dance ritual and a light hearted way of inspiring all to shine their light!

NatureDances is an evolving collective of yogini dancers, depending on location and needs of various perfomances and worshops. Dancers who are featured on this website include:

• Gabrielle Beland
• Kaia Shine
• Sonya Wolfe

Other NatureDancers:

• Leora Brown
• Aimee Clevelend
• Elizabeth Ochs