Kimberly Marie Olivier

Let me not pretend — Returning to the stage looks different now. As a mom of a 12-month-old and 2-year-old each opportunity presented has to be intentional and worth the sacrifice. Limitations to practice, curate, and perfect comes with pressure, yet early motherhood has taught me about resilience. God brought peace to this moment as I surrendered ideals and grasped to what resources I had. Training those wild postpartum emotions, I really had to hone in on wisdom and logic. The effort put forth— all worth it. It’s less about me and more about the bigger picture. For everyone who vocalized how it moved them, thank you. Grateful to share this sacred experience with you. If this moment lands, comment, save, and share 💕 —— Location: @redemptionsf Photo Cover: @lyambewry — #Ballet #browngirlsdoballet #faithbased surrender holyspirit

Ballet is dying. We’ve heard that before, Timothée Chalamet. Every few years someone says ballet or opera are fading. Yet every season, dancers, singers, musicians, and audiences continue to show up. Art forms that have lasted centuries don’t disappear overnight — they evolve, adapt, and find new generations. Grateful for three performances in three weeks as a mother of two littles getting back on her toes. Standing alongside so many artists who continue to shine brightly. 🩰 Grateful for every stage and every invitation to dance. Continue to book ballet dancers. Continue to support the arts. ❤️ . #timotheechalamet #ballet #opera #performingarts #bayareadancer

Being a Black ballerina was less common when I started — and that’s why today feels different. This 2021 feature captured a moment in classical ballet history: my journey within San Francisco Ballet, in a tradition where Black women were rarely seen and even more rarely sustained. Social media has reshaped the landscape, giving visibility to talent and encouragement to those still finding their voice. It moves me deeply to witness more brilliant Black female and male ballet dancers emerging in recent years than I saw throughout my twelve-year career — artists who no longer have to wonder if they belong in these spaces. The piece also situates this story within a broader national context, referencing figures like Misty Copeland at American Ballet Theatre, whose visibility expanded what many believed was possible. I share this not for nostalgia, but to honor those who came before, to acknowledge how far we’ve come, and to keep the door visible — and open — for those who will go further still. #ballerinas #blackexcellence #blackhistorymonth

Someone needs to know this… There are times where we cannot rush decisions, outcomes, pursuits, or desires. We aren’t meant to live in a “get what you want now” world; it is unrealistic and quite frankly unhealthy. When I hear “Take your time with it. Let it meet you where you are.” I feel the love/peace — not pressured to abide by someone else’s agenda. Even if my own. God has been so patient with me. I think it’s time for me to be patient with myself. My identity has shifted and molded to the mom, wife, friend, and dancer I am today. I am grateful for my past (second slide) however it shouldn’t define my future. Becoming is a real thing… and I want to let that breathe. If this resonates, my Substack goes deeper — link in bio. ❤️🙏🏾

Happy International Dance Day! Kimberly Marie Olivier partnered by Anthony Vincent Spaulding in Diving into Lilacs choreographed by Yuri Possokhov. Singapore, 2018. 🇸🇬 #internationaldanceday

Some performances are bigger than the stage. Today I had the honor of sharing space with Bridge to the Future – Rites of Passage in Sonoma County, and what unfolded felt divinely orchestrated — every conversation, every story, every connection. The teenagers stories moved me. The people behind the scenes humbled me — especially Shawntel Reece, the board member who envisioned me dancing and courageously reached out via FB Messenger And Vivian Coffee — 90 years young and still pouring everything into this work — reminded me what true dedication looks like. God’s fingerprints were all over this one. 🌸✨ I spoke to the graduates about resilience and never giving up — and it’s something I’ve been sitting with deeply this week. If you want to go further, I wrote about resilience, surrender, and letting God carry us above the chaos into peace. Link in bio. 🕊️ #BridgeToTheFuture #RitesOfPassage #SonomaCounty #ServiceFromTheSoul #BiggerThanMe Resilience Substack

Years of training led to this exact moment 😅 After watching the Hiplet Ballerinas on America’s Got Talent, I had one immediate thought: Bet, can I do that? 👀 Years ago, I struggled with the thought of Hiplet and it being placed in a separate category instead of simply being embraced within ballet. I still have thoughts there (more on Substack). But growth is real. My perspective shifted after hearing the Hiplet dancers speak on inclusion, body types, and creating space where traditional ballet often did not. So today: love and support. Also, my beginner pointe students witnessed my very first attempt 😁 More nuance to come on Substack. Link in bio. Now be honest… who else is trying the drop tonight. Tag a dancer who needs this challenge. P.S. Did I make a vogue influenced step into a Bay Area Get Low? Inspired by the sound 🎶 😂 #Hipletballerinas #AmericasGotTalent #BlackBallerinas #Ballet inclusivity

Not every battle is won by force. So often, when discomfort comes, my instinct is to fight through it… when maybe I’m meant to breathe through it. I tense up. Push harder. Brace myself. A revelation became more apparent this morning, some battles are won by surrender, steadiness, and breath. I learned this in labor. I had to breathe through the pain while preparing to birth something new. That lesson was never only about labor. This week, instead of fighting everything… I need to practice how to breathe through what I cannot control. A longer reflection like this may have found its future home on Substack ✍️ Link in Bio. If this resonates with you subscribe, follow, like, or share. —— Photo credit: Brandon McGanty Stylist: Chris Oulette #Resilience #FaithJourney #GrowthMindset #Breathwork PurposeDriven

Raw, unfiltered. 🎁 Front row seat 🍿 Filmed by @tedashii 🎥

You’re Invited. Good Friday & Easter Services (Free) Two separate dances for each sacred day. When: April 3, 6PM / April 5, 8:30AM/10AM/11:30AM Location: 1660 McAllister, San Francisco, CA . Bringing ballet to unconventional spaces and where faith is intertwined. . Thank you @redemptionsf for inviting me to participate in Holy Week to reflect on the gift of Christ given to ALL from the Almighty 🕊️ Link in bio . #ballet #holyweek #redemptionsf #christiandance

Ballet gets asked this all the time. Sport? Art? At the professional level, it’s both. We train like athletes. We perform like artists. We compete — quietly. What do you think? P.S. After training like this, I don’t stay in pointe shoes long. These #Allbirds Tree Runners are my easy switch when I’m heading out the door 👟🩰 #balletathlete #performingarts #professionaldancer #allbirdsaffiliate

My first performance of 2026 was surrounded by beauty, community, and creativity. Dancing inside the historic Palace Hotel, a Luxury Collection Hotel reminded me how deeply I missed this — the atmosphere, the shared energy, the quiet anticipation before movement begins. This season of motherhood and artistry feels fuller because I’m returning to what fuels me. Thank you, Rose, for the invitation. Thank you to the Palace team and to everyone who came to experience it with us. Grateful. More performances this month. Inquire for live ballet at your next private or corporate event. #LuxuryEvents #SanFranciscoEvents #LivePerformance #BalletArtist #BayAreaCreative EventEntertainment PrivateEvents WomenInTheArts