Technique | Style | Philosophy

Technique: INSIDE-OUT

A unique facet of Kimberly’s dancing technique is the refusal to obsess over the status of technique.  While, in fact, she has a rich lineage in modern dance technique studies…tracing clear roots to Ted Shawn, Ruth St. Denis, Isadora Duncan, Cunningham, Horton, Helen Temaris, and Limon….the important thing is that the inside of the dancer comes outside and all the way to the audience.  Payne has authentic respect and affection for her roots.

“Nobody Cares if you can’t dance well.  Just get up and dance.  Great dancers are not great because of their technique, they are great because of their passion.”

 ~Martha Graham

Style: JUST GET UP & DANCE

“A dancer’s career is short-lived by its very nature. The stresses of dance on the human body are great and eventually, it simply stops working as healthfully and efficiently as it once did. I vowed I would not do that to my body or to the bodies of my students.”

Payne, a pioneer, bringing dance to Evangelical Christian Churches as early as 1988 considers the idea of dance to be sacred.  Even when a generation saw her choreography as profane or perverse – she believed that observing life through pedestrian choreography helps audiences to shift their sensibilities and see a beautiful creation.

“Start with the images and emotions or the music!  Then dance.  If you need more strength to do something ~ study the technique that will help you do it.” ~Kimberly Payne

Philosophy: If you can WALK you can DANCE

Kimberly Payne dreams of a larger vision for the art-form of dance.

“Dancing is not just for the elect few with the raw talent or the resources for study.  It is our birthright.  We are not educated people if the only focus is our mind. Our bodies moving help our brain process. This leads to being a whole person, an educated person.” ~Kimberly Payne

In July 2013 Payne danced in Assisi, Italy.

The Accademia Italiana del Clarinetto, in collaboration with the city of Assisi, were honored to host ClarinetFest with Cynthia Doggett and Kimberly Payne in the historic city of Assisi, in the Umbria region of Italy.