Kimberly was born on June 7, 1984 and raised in the Bronx. She is the youngest of two daughters and as a child always listened to old school Salsa. She has danced Bomba, Plena and other Folkloric dances from Puerto Rico, for “El Grupo Ursuval” founded by Maria Clemente from Loiza, Puerto Rico. She has also danced and continues to dance for William Cepeda and both of his groups: Afro-Rican Jazz and Afro Boricua, performing throughout the tri-state area, Wisconsin, Puerto Rico, Chicago and Albany. She danced Salsa duets with her cousin Edwin Rivera at carnivals, talent shows for school and basically anywhere their mothers would take them. She studied at the Starlite Dance Studio and learned to Mambo with David Melendez, Maribel Maldonado, Eddie Camacho and Hip Hop with Saleana Negron. She started performing for the “Starlite Dance Company” under the direction of Saleana Negron where she competed in such as: Performance Plus, Rising Star Regional and National, Foot Loose, and On Stage America. In the process they received such accolades as: 1^st Place Gold, Top Line Highest Score, Platinum Award, Diamond Award and the Smooth like Butter Award. She was also one of the original members of, “The Sweethearts” a performance team from Starlite Dance Studio. She has also danced for la India at the Grand Hyatt with her dance partner, at that time, Jerome Ramos, as well as Edwin Rivera (cousin) and Jessica Ortiz, for the Living la vida L.O.L.A. (Latino Organization for Liver Awareness). She performed at the 1^st Salsa Congress in the Catskills, throughout the tri-state area, Washington D.C., Connecticut, and various private events. At the age of 14, was introduced to an all girls dance group from Japan named Mars, currently known as Salsa Sunrize, through David Melendez and was hired to choreograph dance routines for them to perform at Salsa Congresses. She later joined Saleana’s Dance Company named, “Danze Dimensions” where she danced at various competitions and accumulated a few more 1^st Place Awards. While out social dancing at the Side Street Social now known as Con Sazon, she was approached by Candy Mena and Jai Catalano to be part of their group, Estilo Clasico. They performed at the 4^th Annual West Coast Salsa Congress as well as various private events. She taught at the Dancers Dreamzzz School of Dance directed by Debbie Melendez. She was also a Copa-Girl and has been seen nationally on the Channel 11 News in the morning in addition to the well-respected latin Channel 41 on “El Gordo y La Flaca.” Today she is teaching at the MDN Latin Dance Studio, she is a member of Rhythm Divas, directed by Jami Josephson, continues to perform duets with Candy Mena under the name of “Essence”, and for a little leisurely break she continues to choreograph most dance routines for Salsa Sunrize.

 

 

 

 

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