Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Youlmae Kim. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Youlmae, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?

I started dancing when I was 8 years old. Since then, dance & movement art has been a consistent part of my life. From a very young age to the present (for over 20 years) I’ve trained to be a professional dancer through art schools and dance studios.

During my journey, I have questioned the meaning of professionalism in my line of work. This questioning resulted from past experiences and expectations that I’ve encountered as a professional dancer in this industry; there are moments where some of these expectations can be quite challenging.

After some time, I broke away from strictly viewing myself as a professional dancer and professional choreographer. Breaking away from this framework was important because I didn’t want to limit myself to those titles. This also helped me keep the joy and passion I feel towards dance / movement arts.

One thing that I’m certain of is what I love to do and this creative process is a lifelong love of mine. The affection and passion that stems from this makes me want to share my art with people. Ultimately, this has become my personal definition of professionalism.

Circling back to the question, I decided to pursue this path at a very young age and this path is an ongoing one.

Youlmae, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

My name is Youlmae Kim. I’m a professional dancer and choreographer based in New York City. I’m currently focusing on creating choreography and teaching these pieces in NYC-based dance studios such as Broadway Dance Center, PJM Dance NYC. Furthermore, I direct short dance films with my choreography as well.

I have trained in diverse genres of dance including Ballet, Modern Dance, Contemporary Dance, Street Style Dance (Hip Hop, House, Voguing) and Korean Traditional Dance. Through my unique background in dance, I try to provide new experiences to people.

With that in mind, I want to embrace being a storyteller with the help of my eclectic dance background. From Korean Traditional Dance to Street Style Dance, the experiences that I wish to share with others are connected to my life story. Each work or piece has a distinct meaning.

I hope that my work/storytelling can be a new and special experience for someone. Being able to provide this is the reason why I want to share my story through my movement. Nothing would make me prouder than if my story presents people with a new perspective or way of authentically seeing themselves.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

Initially, I was going to go to a graduate school right after my graduation from university in South Korea. In that year, I had a chance to be an assistant choreographer for my university’s School of Theater Film department. I fell in love with musical theater during this process which made me want to learn more about this genre. Later on, I applied to enter Broadway Dance Center in NYC instead of entering graduate school in South Korea.

Since my move to NYC, my life has done a complete 180. My time here is filled with many memorable experiences and moving to this city has been the biggest pivot point. In the future, I want to work on a Broadway Theatre show.
I’m currently teaching at Broadway Dance Center, which is where I started my new journey, and the styles that I teach are quite different from theater dance.

Have any books or other resources had a big impact on you?

I love films, books, graphic novels, games, museums, and so much more. When I have free time, I try to read more books. These days, I’ve fallen in love with philosophy books – especially with the work from philosopher, Friedrich Nietzsche.
I have a long way before I fully understand his philosophy; I might not be able to understand his complex thoughts during my lifetime. Despite this, reading his work encouraged me to think more deeply about life.
His philosophy covers the idea of ‘life-affirmation.’ This concept makes me wonder how my life is doing which brings me to the inner depths of my mind where hidden answers live.
It’s important for artists to understand and have an awareness of themselves. After all, expressing their thoughts and feelings is their job. With that being said, Nietzsche’s philosophy always helps me create a space to concentrate on my authentic self. When I’m in this space, I can confidently stand up for myself.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/youlmaekim
• Youtube: https://youtu.be/kvJYgvN7nXw?si=Pkzkei6xOcWt725y

Image Credits

All photos by Kev
IG @notjstkev