Dancers most commonly leave the profession around the age of 35. Dancer Kim Hale is 56.
Do the math? There’s no math to do. Kim Hale is too old for a career as a dancer, as she’s likely been told before. Only she didn’t listen. In fact, she didn’t listen so well that she wound up dancing on Broadway.
Kim’s first try for the spotlight in New York City didn’t get off the ground before she was called back home to California to care for her parents, whose health was starting to decline. After several years out west, Kim’s dream of performing on Broadway seemed permanently set aside.
A hip-hop dance class Kim took on a whim reminded her of what she loved about dance and rekindled her hopes of reaching Broadway. She moved to New York City to restart her dream.
Kim taught dance classes and went to auditions. She documented her move and her new life on Instagram and TikTok, where she has amassed hundreds of thousands of followers inspired by her story.
During a recent appearance on ABC’s GMA3, Kim met two of her social media admirers, Chicago cast members Robyn Hurder and Michael Scirrotto, who arrived with an invitation to perform one night in the long-running revival.
Kim was in the cast for the May 14 performance of Chicago, her longtime dream of performing on the Broadway stage fulfilled. Sort of.
As Kim said in a Facebook post following the event, “Can’t wait to make my actual Broadway debut BUT this was definitely a step in the right direction.” She wrote on her Instagram account: “I felt like Cinderella – ONE night only – but a sweet moment for sure.”
So, Kim will go back to auditioning and teaching and chasing the dream. Her social media followers see her as an inspiration to never give up on a dream. It’s important to remember that not giving up on a dream can demand the dreamer give up other things.
Kim has had an impressive career offstage, working as a talent scout and publicist, as well as a choreographer and dance instructor. Few people in their 50s would leave that behind for the demands and uncertainty of Kim’s chosen path. For that matter, few people in their 20s or 30s would either. When Kim talks about getting out of her comfort zone, she’s not kidding.
Deciding to follow your dream is easy. Taking the steps to make it reality isn’t easy. Neither is accepting what you’ll have to leave behind to follow that dream. Kim’s irrepressible optimism is attractive but it’s the sacrifice that makes stories such as Kim’s inspiring. Here’s hoping she gets to make her “actual Broadway debut” soon.