KIMBERLY CHAPMAN

Born in Vineland, New Jersey, Kimberly Began her dance training at her mother’s Studio in 1971 and was a soloist member of the VRDC from 1979-1985. She entered and continued her training at the School of the Pennsylvania Ballet from 1983 – 1985. After graduating Juilliard in 1988 with a BFA Degree in Dance and a minor in Music in just three years, Kimberly danced professionally with the Eliot Feld Ballet Company, dancing throughout Italy and the United States. Kimberly was the recipient of the full scholarships to Jacob’s Pillow in 1985 and 1986, received the coveted Monticello Award for Choreography in 1987 and was also the recipient of the prestigious PRINCESS GRACE FOUNDATION – USA DANCE SCHOLARSHIP in 1987. Choreographing since 1982, Kimberly was the choreographer in collaboration with a playwright and composer on a full length ballet “Chains of Fire’ set on the Gateway Ballet of St. Louis, Missouri, which premiered in 1992. Her choreographic contributions to the VRDC include: “Forest Echos”, 1985; “Second Wind”, 1986; “ A Moment Between Time”, 1987; “Via Park Bench”, 1989; “Cruel Crazy Beautiful World”, 1990; “Make a Wish”, 1991”; “Jig”, 1992; “Cocoon”, 1994; “ I Remember” 1995; “Four Scottish Dances”, 1996; “… On the Fifth Day (Genesis 1:20 – 25), 1998; “Solace”, 1999; “Siuil A Run”, 2001; “Hosanna”, 2003; “Inside Your Mind”, 2004; “Signal” & “Woman of Strength”, 2005; “Rod” & “Il Adore” 2006 , “Elements” in 2008, “Montserrat” in 2010, “Polevetsian Dances” in 2011, “Amen” in 2012, “Amalgamation” in 2013, and “Cattywhoppin” 2015.

No stranger to the pageant world, Kimberly was third runner up to the Miss New Jersey Scholarship Pageant, and for 5 years was the Director for the Cumberland County Jr. Miss Program. Kim has also performed in two rock videos for KYW –TV and was featured in Mademoiselle Magazine in the cover story. “Burn, Calories, Burn!” In 1995, Dance Magazine published an article written by Kimberly on “Lyric Jazz”. Kimberly was the Artistic Co-Director, resident choreographer, and Ballet Mistress of the VRDC from 1990 – 1996.

From 1996 – 1998 Kimberly was on the faculty at the University of Nevada Las Vegas (UNLV), where she taught ballet and jazz. She also taught pointe at the Conservatory of Las Vegas and performed nightly in the show “Jubilee” at Bally’s Hotel and Casino, Kim was on the faculty at the Cincinnati Ballet from 1998-2003.

She is the Artistic Director for the VRDC and the Co-Director at Maxine’s Dance Studio. Most notably Kimberly is making a difference in boy’s perception of dance.   Ms. Chapman started a free boys class to help boys realize that dance can improve their sports. The class is offered to afford boys the opportunity to understand and appreciate the art of dance while improving their agility, flexibility, coordination, memorization and athleticism. Kimberly has two children Angelina and Joseph.