Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Kayla Shorma. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Kayla, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.
Four years ago we began offering classes in our dance studio focussed on children with all abilities. For over a decade we had been operating as your typical dance studio and had an over 200 student client base. Adding the classes for children with special needs held a special place in my heart, as my 4 year old son received a Autism Spectrum Disorder Diagnosis in 2017 when he was 3 years old.
Once being introduced to the special needs community after having my own child with special needs, I realized there was a lacking in our rural Minnesota community for activities for children who needed a special environment or adaptations.
We started offering free Saturday events that were open play sensory events. This grew into now a weekly movement class held. At the end of the Dance season these dancers perform in our Spring Recital. Its a favorite routine of the whole show for many.
Kayla, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
Kayla Shorma founded Dreams Come True Dance Studio in 2009 with a mission to teach the love and art of dance through technique fun and flair. Kayla’s life-long passion for dance began with donning her first dance shoes at age 3. Over the years she has learned and studied multiple dance forms including Ballet, Modern, Jazz, Hip Hop, Pointe, Clogging, Tap and Lyrical. She also participated in Beauty Pagents growing up, figure skating and also worked with the Masula Children’s Theatre.
Kayla danced in more than 35 performances before graduating high school. As a teen, Kayla was offered the opportunity to student teach alongside her dance instructors. In High School she also attended workshops by James Sewell and his Company of Dancers, Galina Mezentseva, Alvin Ailey and others. She was also on the Football Varsity Cheerleading Squad and performed in the Colorguard all through High School. Her Color Guard and Marching Band performed in the bands of America Regional Championships in the TransWorld Dome in St Louis and the in the festival of States parade in Orlando FL. Kayla graduated from Grand Rapids High School in 2003. During College she studied children’s health and received her Associates Degree in Childhood Development. Prior to opening her dance studio in Grand Rapids, Minnesota, Kayla coached gymnastics for four years and started a small dance program where she coached. The dance program flourished and expanded to become her now 200-plus-student base today.
Kayla has led her students to many great accomplishments. From Platinum scoring, Special side awards to 1st place wins at dance Competitions. She has instructed many title winners and has coached them to Nationals and performances as far as Orlando Florida for the Citrus Bowl, Competing in Nationals in Wisconsin Dells. She has also brought her teams to Disney World to perform at EPCOT and Magic Kingdom. The most recent trip was to Nashville to dance on the Grand Ole Opry Stage. Her teams have performed locally for community and sporting events along with professional event such as the Minnesota Axemen and the Minnesota Swarm. Kayla travels to surrounding cities of Grand Rapids to offer Community Ed programs. She has also worked with many local performances and groups such as the Grand Rapids Players and Showboat.
Coach Kayla believes Dance is a life-long learning process and she continues to participate in classes and workshops. She received her Acro Arts Certification and also passed her MLTE exam for Dance Instruction.
Kayla strives to not only teach her students the art, technique and love of dance, but also confidence, grace and poise. Being a part of our dancers growth throughout their entire school years and beyond has been something that is very important to her. Her son was diagnosed with Autism spectrum disorder when he was a toddler. This has motivated Kayla to offer Adapted dance and sensory opportunities for children of all abilities. She is also a part of the Parent Teacher Special Advisory Council for 318.
Kayla married her husband Paul in August 2010. They have a daughter Breezie, son Knox, Chihuahua Cider, Lab Timber and several laying hens and ducks. She loves boating, bonfire, nature, being in the kitchen and hauling their horse Ginger around to horse shows and barrel races that her daughter is involved in. She also considers herself a foodie.
In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?
Dance and creative movement is such an important part of being healthy body and soul for all people. Find programs in your area, see if they need volunteers, donations or even a ticket to go see the next event they have.
Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?
Raising a child who lives with disabilities or a complex medial diagnosis can be very hard. It can also feel lonely. For along time I felt very alone knowing that the people in my life who have never experienced this may never quite understand the day in and out struggles we face daily.
As time went on, I picked myself up and decided that I would try my best to pave a way so others behind me to later get a diagnosis for their child maybe wouldn’t feel the way I had. The free sensory days, the online community and the special dance classes we offered created a space of community. Where we are all supporting and accepting of each other and our children.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.dctdance.com
- Instagram: @DCTDANCE
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DCTDance
Image Credits
My husband took all the photos. :)