Kim Sato is the founder/artistic director of the SOULdier’s company. The main reason she decided to start up the company was to inspire other dancers to seek knowledge on hip hop culture and its history. She noticed that many up and coming dancers did not have the same training or understanding of hip hop culture that she was so lucky to receive as a youth growing up. She wanted to give back to the community and provide a place where dancers could receive similar training in hip hop dance to what she had experienced. She also wanted to expose dancers to all aspects of hip hop culture. So she created this company just so she could help youth discover and share her passion for hip hop culture!

Kim comes from a varied dance background. She has been classically trained in ballet, jazz, modern and tap and was a self-taught hip hop dancers in the early days until she discovered you could learn it in the classroom. So gone were the days that she had to wear out her VHS tapes in certain spots just to learn the current moves in “hip hop” dance. She took her training from the school dances to the studio where she began her studies. She learned to pop, lock, break and hip hop. Kim has been lucky enough to learn from many amazing teachers such as Mr. Wiggles, Asia One, Skeeter Rabbit, Poppin’ Pete, Greg Cambellock Jr., Shabbadoo, Lock N Key and the list continues.

As for her professional career Kim has had one of her dreams come true when she got asked to come to LA to perform in the “Groovaloos” show. She was ecstatic to share the stage with her hip hop idols and discovered a passion for breakin’. In the past year she filmed the movie “Kickin’ it Old Skool” where she utilized some of her lockin’ and breakin’ skills. She has been lucky enough to use dance as a means to travel the world spending time teaching and performing throughout North America and far off places such as Brazil, China and Japan.

Kim continues her studies in hip hop culture by reading and traveling to meet different people that are inspired by the culture. She hopes to inspire the community and set an example of how hip hop culture can be a very positive outlet for today’s youth!