Kristen started taking dance lessons at age three, which began a lifetime love of dance and the performing arts. She continuously trained for the following sixteen years, in multiple styles including ballet, tap, jazz, and hip hop, as well as adding training in musical theater, vocal performance, and band. She choreographed multiple dance routines for her high school musicals, including the finale number her senior year which involved over 70 cast members composed of both high school and elementary students. She applied as a candidate for Sterling Scholar in the dance and music categories, and her submission, combined with her academic performance, earned her the runner-up as General Sterling Scholar. She was also honored to tour Europe with the Utah Ambassadors of Music band.

After graduating high school, Kristen trained at the collegiate level in band, choir, and theater, and received scholarships for both band and choir. She has also expanded her dance training as an adult through Zumba classes, and recently returned to her ballet and tap roots taking adult classes here at Dance Movement Academy before beginning teaching. She previously trained at Colette’s School of Dance, Deana Whatcott Studios, and Diamond Talent Productions. Kristen was also recently cast as a background extra for Magnum P.I. and a major movie still in production. She has also worked as a lifestyle model for Surf Soap, a local Hawaiian eco/ocean-friendly beauty product company.

Kristen is a registered dental hygienist from the Dixie State College School of Dental Hygiene. She has lived in Hawaii for three years during her husband’s Air Force assignment at JBPHH. She has three children, and both of her daughters are students here at Dance Movement Academy. She enjoys working with her students, and is thrilled to be back in the dance studio doing what she loves.

Taylor’s love for dance started at Studio 22 Dance Academy in Franklin, PA, at the age of 6. She joined the competition team at age 9; and she continued studying Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Contemporary, Modern, Lyrical, and Hip-Hop until she graduated high school in 2014. Also during that time, Taylor joined her high school dance team, the Knightettes, and was captain her last two years. She also officially became a dance teacher at her studio in 2012. After graduating high school, Taylor went to Penn State for college, but she continued to teach on her breaks. After she graduated in 2018, she went back to teaching full time at the studio. She instructed and choreographed dances for kids from the ages of 4 to 18 for 7 years. In 2019, Taylor got married and started traveling all over the US with her husband for the Marine Corps. She has missed teaching so much these past couple of years and absolutely cannot wait to get back into it at the Dance Movement Academy and K-Bay Gymnastics!

My name is Abigail Evans. I started my gymnastics journey at 3 years old. In 2002 I was enrolled at a gymnastics gym in Ohio called Paulines Gymnastics where I learned the basics of the uneven bars and balance beam. As I got older, at the age of 12 I was enrolled in a competitive gym called Findlay Elite where I competed in floor tumbling until I was 17. I coached gymnastics all throughout high school at both gyms until I graduated in 2017. I taught ages 3-17. I love working with all different skill levels and ages because it provides me the opportunity to have such a positive and supportive impact on the little ones and help motivate the older more advance children to maintain their confidence and gain new skills safely. My goal is to help motivate and build confidence in each and every one of the children not only in gymnastics but for them to carry along with them throughout their lives!

Grace Van Dewater is an enthusiastic, well rounded dancer and artist. She found her love in the dance studio when she was at the young age of 3-years-old. Grace has performed in her home town dance studio’s annual recital since the age of five. When Grace was 12-years-old, she began assisting teachers in classes where she would collaborate with the teacher and parents to create a welcoming environment for the dancers. Eventually being able to teach her own classes where Grace creates a safe and imaginative space for children from the ages of 3 to 11.

Grace has danced in pieces that were showcased in Philadelphia, New York City, and Walt Disney World. These opportunities fanned the flames of passion and love for the dance art community. Since then, Grace has studied many genres such as contemporary, tap, hip-hop and jazz with professional dance artists. Continuing her dance education with training by such remarkable teachers as Reggie Oliver, Peter Sabasino, and Newsies Broadway stars Jacob Guzman and David Guzman. While in high school, Grace performed in several of the musicals as lead dancer. These shows included The Music Man, The Drowsy Chaperone, Christmas Carol, and Guys And Dolls. She then goes on to become her high school’s dance captain under the direction of Kimberly Williams. She led the dance production in the shows Newsies, Crazy for You, and Into the Woods.

Grace then began gearing her education towards her passion. After high school, Grace continued her dance career at Temple University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She is hopeful that furthering her education in dance, not only in the studio but in everyday experiences, will expose her to a new level of understanding the beauty of dance history and diversity.

Hello! My name is Vivianne Lyle and I am proud to say I have returned to work as a gymnastics instructor at K-Bay Gymnastics. I enrolled as an athlete with K-Bay Gymnastics when I was 7 years old and was a competitive gymnast for 9 years. My father served in the US Navy for 27 years and was stationed on Kaneohe from 2007- 2012, and it was through this experience that I found Di and her gym.

Due to the nature of my father’s career I moved to Las Vegas in 2012 where I trained at Salcianu Elite Gymnastics Academy until 2016. I competed in USA Gymnastics Compulsory levels 4-6 then subsequently competed in the USA Gymnastics XCEL program at the platinum level. I was Nevada State Beam Champion 2 years in a row for XCEL level Gold and Nevada State All- Around Champion in 2014 for XCEL level Gold.

In 2016 I had to medically retire from the sport due to a back injury that I sustained at a competition. While I was devastated to no longer wear a leotard, I took up volunteering as an assistant coach in Salcianu’s recreational program after graduating high school and eventually became an employee. I taught kids ranging in ages 3 years- 14 with varying levels of experience.

Outside of the world of gymnastics I am a student attending the University of Hawaii at Mānoa. I am pursuing an undergraduate degree in Journalism and simultaneously am enrolled in the University’s Army ROTC program. I will be commissioning as an Active-Duty CBRN officer in Spring 2023 and am awaiting orders for my first duty assignment and when I will be attending my basic officer course.

My goals for K-Bay gymnastics are plentiful, but the main goal I have for the gym is to instill confidence in the kids I coach to apply to all aspects of their lives. One thing I learned from this gym is the mindset that I can do anything I put my mind to through hard work and dedication, and that’s what I hope to teach these kids. The words “can’t” and “won’t” were prohibited in this gym when I trained here as a kid because coaches instilled fundamentals that were built upon to progress in the sport. I learned how to fall with grace and pick myself back up, soar to new heights, and the importance of teamwork and being adaptable, and that is what I want to implement in my coaching style. I am looking forward to helping children develop in their character and skillset, and hopefully will help them fall in love with the sport of gymnastics as much as I did.