Kim Strunk

Kim Strunk, originally from Corpus Christi TX, embodies a passion for the transforma- tional power of the arts, which fuels her pursuits as a dance artist, educator, consult- ant  and  advocate.  Her  distinguished  professional  and  academic  career  spans  over three decades. Kim’s current artistic and educational contributions align with her be- lief that dance can serve as a bridge of understanding and appreciation of cultures other than our own. Kim believes dance is a universal and powerful form of expres- sion, which can unite and ignite us as individuals, and as a society. Although she now resides in The Bahamas, Kim has deep ties to Utah’s bustling dance scene and commu- nity of dance educators.
From 1984-1996, Kim garnered national recognition as a charismatic lead dancer with internationally acclaimed Repertory Dance Theatre. In 1992,  Kim delved into Congo- lese dance which ignited her passion for African dance, music and culture and led to substantial focused studies, including field research in Guinea, West Africa, Congo, and Brazzaville. In 1994, Kim established Diverse Dance LLC, a company which promotes cultural diversity through dance. In 1996 she founded the popular African dance class offered  through  RDT Community  School.  Executive  Director,  Linda C. Smith  stated, “Kim didn’t just start a class, she built a movement, an appetite for African dance in Utah.”
In 2002, Kim earned a Master of Fine Arts in Modern Dance from the University of Utah and joined the faculty at Utah Valley University where she served as Department Chair and attained the rank of Associate Professor before relocating to the Bahamas with her husband in 2014.
As an independent dance artist/educator from 1984 – present, Kim has taught and choreographed at every institution of higher education in Utah and has worked with countless high schools and community organizations across the state. Although Kim teaches a variety of classes including Modern, Creative, Composition, Improvisation and World Dance, her most popular classes are West and Central African dance ac- companied by live drumming. Kim is skilled at designing classes, workshops and chore- ography for diverse student populations. Her energetic and inspiring learning environ- ment leaves students feeling uplifted, more confident in themselves, and with a great- er appreciation and understanding of African dance and culture.