At 16, Eileen Kim faced a life-changing decision: Stay home to finish high school in Chicago or move to Washington D.C. to pursue her dream of becoming a professional dancer. After spending the summer at the Kirov Academy of Ballet in DC, she was accepted into the year-round program and begged her parents to let her go. Though she had only been training in ballet for two years, she took a leap of faith and went. Several leaps later, she is now a professional dancer, balancing her career with an ever-growing list of creative pursuits.
In her childhood, Kim trained seriously in rhythmic gymnastics, but by eighth grade, she had reached the highest level of the sport and transitioned to ballet. “I thought ballet was similar enough, but I quickly learned that wasn’t true,” she says, laughing. “In any case, I fell in love with it, and it stuck.”
After graduating from Kirov, Kim moved to New York City to continue training. She secured an apprentice contract with Universal Ballet a year later, bravely moving to Seoul, South Korea, at only 19. One season later, she realized there was more she wanted to explore, both within dance and beyond.
Kim discovered the University of Southern California’s Glorya Kaufman School of Dance, applied, and was accepted. After graduating in 2023, she spent a year with Cincinnati Ballet II before joining BalletX, where she is now finishing her first season.
Beyond company life, Kim has her hands in multiple artistic pursuits. She was recently accepted into the Countertechnique teacher-training program, works as the social media manager for Laguna Dance, teaches yoga, and takes on side projects; most recently, a video-art class at Fleisher Art Memorial.
On Her Year in South Korea
“Looking back, I had a beautiful experience in Korea. My mom immigrated to the U.S. at the same age I was when I lived there, so in a way, it was [like living] the opposite of her. I understand Korean culture from the perspective of being American yet physically Korean. For my identity, I’m so thankful I lived there because it helped me grasp things about my culture I wouldn’t have otherwise.”
On Deciding to Go to College
“During my Kaufman audition, I felt the same sense of belonging I had at Kirov—I knew it was where I was supposed to be. But even after getting accepted, I struggled with the decision. When you’re young, choices feel so big, like ‘This could change the trajectory of my life’ big. And in a way, it did. But I took another leap of faith.
“Sometimes, you have these really beautiful moments of clarity where you think, I don’t know what I’m doing, but I know I’m meant to be here right now. So, I spent a year in Korea and then left for L.A.”
Lessons Gained From School
“At Kaufman, I found my passion for fostering spaces of togetherness, creativity, and collaboration. We were empowered to create our own paths. Producing shows and events wasn’t an assignment. I just saw a need, or maybe a creative desire, and went for it. My friends and I were like ‘Okay, let’s make this happen,’ and we turned our ideas into action.
“Kaufman also taught me what I was curious about—and that my curiosity was just beginning. Now that I’m in company life, I know what I want to explore next. If I didn’t have something else to stimulate me creatively, I think I’d get bored. And by staying curious, it naturally fuels my work in the studio.”
On Teaching
“I love teaching. I owe so much to the teachers who believed in me, and I don’t think teachers get enough credit. My mentors—Stella Voskovetskaya, Erin Forrest, Anton Wilson, and Jodie Gates—have shaped me into the artist I am.
“One of my favorite experiences in Cincinnati was teaching at the Cincinnati Ballet Academy. I taught some choreography classes, and watching my students dive into choreography and discover their own love for it—just like my teachers did for me—was incredibly rewarding.”
Dreams for the Future
“There’s so much I’m excited for, but right now, I’m happy to be in BalletX in Philadelphia. When you’re younger, you’re always rushing toward what’s next, but now I’m ready to pause, take everything in, and grow. I’m also looking forward to starting my Countertechnique training and developing as a teacher.
“I have so many dreams because I have so many interests. I don’t know exactly what’s next, but I know it’s there. I love making things happen, producing, choreographing, and creating environments that bring people together through art. I have all these seed ideas, and when the time is right, I know they’ll come together.”
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