Kymberly Kellems, co-Artistic Director of Shiroun Dance Company, is originally from Northern California and Southern Oregon where she received extensive training in many styles of dance including jazz, lyrical, contemporary, and hip-hop. She continued her dance education and received her BFA degree at California Institute of the Arts, School of Dance.

While studying ballet, modern, and composition at CalArts, she had the opportunity to grow under the exceptional tutelage of Stephen Koplowitz, Laurence Blake, Glen Eddy, Cynthia Young, Rachael Berman, Stephanie Nugent, Colin Conner, Jeffery Gerodias, and Nora Reynolds. She performed in several pieces including a work by Laurence Blake. In her fourth year at CalArts she was given the opportunity to be a part of an exchange with the London Contemporary Dance School. While studying abroad she was privileged to work with many aspiring artists and accomplished choreographers including Richard Alston.

Currently Kymberly is co-artistic director of Shiroun Dance Company because of her vision of combining two of her greatest passions; the art of dance and contributing to end world hunger. Together with co-Artistic Director and sister, Kristina Walker, this vision is being exemplified in Shiroun Dance Company. SDC "demonstrates the difference" by nourishing through movement as well as providing a means for tangible nourishment to reach those in need via the Nourish The Children organization. Kymberly feels very fortunate to be able to focus on the art form of dance and further pursue it as her professional career while concurrently being a "force for good" and making a difference in our world today.

Raised in Sixes, Oregon, Veronica DeWitt began her professional training at the University of Oregon when she was eighteen. She graduated with a BA in dance in 2007 and in the same year joined DPC. In 2010 she studied with Susan Marshall at the SUMAC workshop in NYC. She is also a member of Nutshell Mask and Theater, working closely with director Jamie Peck and touring to Pennsylvania. She has choreographed for two productions of Children’s Musical Theater of Oregon. In addition to being a professional dancer, Veronica is also on her way to rock-n-roll stardom as a member of the band Lost Maven. She hopes to create performance art that represents a new generation of expression through the synthesis of multiple artistic disciplines. 

At age eighteen Will Cooper set out on his dancing journey with the youth of Kosovo, South-Eastern Europe in the international project Global Motion.  With the success of the project, it's participants converged to perform at Kosovo's National Theater.  Will went on to choreograph for the project and facilitate dozens of youth as a regional coordinator.  Once bitten by the dance bug, he returned to the U.S. to pursue professional dance.  He sunk his teeth in at Santa Monica College, performing for both their modern and ethnic dance companies.  While in L.A., he also performed for Kybele Dance Theater and Donlavy Dance Company.  

Will trained and performed for a short time at California Institute of the Arts but, because of knee complications, left to delve into intensive yoga training.  He found his way back to his home town of Mt. Shasta, CA where he worked extensively in ritual dance theater with The Flying Lotus Production Ensemble and performed in other local dance and theater productions, such as H2O Manifesto!  Just down the road, he found his way to his first full-time professional company, Dancing People Company of Ashland, OR, where he began in '10 and continues as a core company dancer. 

Will feels super charged to bring his peak dance training and budding artistry to join forces with Shiroun Dance Company! 

Kristina Walker, co-Artistic Director of Shiroun Dance Company, has a deep passion for dance and choreography!  At a young age, Kristina started as a performer in Musical Theatre and as her love for dance grew she began her training in Southern California and New York.  Once she moved to Ashland to attend Southern Oregon University, she found there was a need for more dance training opportunities in the area so she opened Song and Dance Studio, her first dance studio. Her commitment grew and she continued on to open Studio K where she offered focused dance instruction and cutting-edge choreography.  Her captivating choreography has won awards at many competitions and conventions where she also has been recognized as a noted choreographer.  Additionally, Kristina initiated and was the Ashland High School Dance Team coach for 10 years as well as instructor and coach at Southern Oregon University.  Kristina is excited to be performing on stage with Shiroun this season and is loving dancing beside her sister, Kymmi!    

Sadie Knights began her training at the early age of 2 at the Gayna Brown School of Dance in England. She continued training extensively in ballet and pointe with Penny King at Stillpoint Dance Studio and danced the starring role of Clara in the Nutcracker in 2002. Moving on to find her deep passion for contemporary, modern and hip-hop, she spent the next few years competing and performing with Advanced Production at All That Jazz Dance Studio.  Prior to becoming a member of Shiroun, Sadie was living in Portland, OR training at MVP Dance Elite under the direction of Lorena Aranda as well as being a member of Movéo, a pre-professional, contemporary, jazz and hip-hop performance company. She has attended workshops and conventions all up and down the west coast and has had the opportunity to train under names such as Dave Scott, Wade Robson and other forefront choreographers of commercial dance today.  Aside from performing and training, Sadie has also been teaching dance to students ages 2-100 at studios in Oregon and most recently Sadie taught a month-long workshop to children and teens in Latacunga, Ecuador. She looks forward to being able to share her greatest passion through performance, while helping children in need. 

Lily Kurtz originally trained as a competitive gymnast. She began dancing at the age of fourteen. She's danced on various local companies, and participated in competitive dance team. After assistant coaching dance team at the Ashland High School, Lily moved to Guanajuato, Mexico, where she trained in the styles of salsa, bachata, and cha cha cha. Before returning to the States Lily spent a period of time in Nicaragua volunteering with children. Now back home, she looks forward to dancing her heart out in the nourishing atmosphere the Shiroun dance company provides, and helping children world-wide.