“There’s still life to live,” says Kim Hale, 56.
Professional dancer Kim Hale, 56, has become a social media sensation, sharing her uplifting story about pursuing dreams later in life.
Originally from California, Kim chased her Broadway dreams in New York City in her 20s, even participating in workshops for Broadway shows including “Chicago”. However, she never got to debut on the Great White Way.
In 1996, Kim stepped away from the spotlight to focus on teaching dance, eventually collaborating with the legendary Debbie Allen. She later shifted to roles in marketing and social media, yet she never stopped dancing or choreographing along the way.
It was in 2010 that Kim returned to California to spend precious time with her aging parents during their final years.
“I was with them for about ten years before they passed,” she shared. “Just before the pandemic, I lost my second parent. Then, I faced my own health battles, including a melanoma diagnosis and three skin cancer surgeries. Later, I had Bell’s palsy, complicated by trigeminal neuralgia.”
“When I was battling skin cancer, I remember asking a friend, ‘Is it really bad?’ And he replied, ‘Yes, it is. You should take this hip-hop class,’” Kim recalls.
In 2021, this hip-hop class marked the beginning of a transformative journey for Kim. Soon, she expanded to include heels classes, ballet, jazz, and eventually theater dance. All these new skills rekindled her dream of moving back to New York.
A comment on her Instagram by Tony Award-winning director Jerry Mitchell, reading “Dreams have no deadline,” became her inspiration to return to the Big Apple.
“After spending a year visiting New York off and on, I woke up one day and thought, ‘If I’m going to do this, now is the time.’”
So, in March, Kim moved back to New York City, carrying with her the message “You only live once” and determination to give her dreams another shot.
Now, Kim is teaching and continually training as an actor, singer, and dancer, all while auditioning for roles. Despite her efforts, she faces difficulties in finding auditions because “nobody knows what to do with me,” she confesses.
“There aren’t many stories where I fit in,” she elaborates. “People often say, ‘We don’t know what to do with you.’ It’s not all smooth sailing, but folks are fascinated by my journey.”
Her unique story caught the attention of GMA3: What You Need to Know, culminating in a magical one-night guest appearance in “Chicago” on Broadway this past May.
Revisiting the Broadway stage after so many years “was just incredible,” says Kim, even though she humorously likens it to Cinderella’s story, where “the carriage turns back into a pumpkin at midnight.”
For Kim, her journey is a metaphor for endless possibilities. “It’s not about clinging to the same dream I had when I was 26,” she explains. “It’s about reimagining it to fit where I am today and pushing boundaries to see what I can accomplish.”
Kim believes her story is for everyone who still has a dream, no matter their age.
“Everyone faces adversity. Being over 50 doesn’t mean giving up on dreams and goals. There’s so much life still to live.”
