KMA’s Impact in 2025

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In 2025 we served 68 individuals from a wide-range of backgrounds and abilities – including 40 people with special needs and 24 older adults. Thanks to our donors, we were able to continue to offer both Free and Pay-What-You-Can programming to ensure that no one would be turned away. Through our yoga and dance movement classes, we helped people heal. And we proudly maintained our dedication to diversity, equity and inclusion in our programs. Read what a few of our students said about the impact KMA has had on them:

Francine is an 85-year-old professional dancer who performed in the original Cabaret on Broadway and at the world-famous Copacabana! She told us: “Over the summer, I had some serious medical issues and went into a funk which kept me away from the one thing I love doing – dancing. Discovering KMA’s dance project for older adults felt like ‘divine intervention’ and a new beginning. Getting back to the basics of human movement has been magic. Thank you, donors, for providing me with this!”

Shigeko told us: “I’ve been a dancer and actor all my life. Over the past 15 years, I’ve had a series of physical challenges – the list is long! KMA is helping me heal and to return to a life that I cherish and adore. One little step at a time with kindness… I also enjoy volunteering for KMA as I am simply inspired by everyone who comes – older ladies, young lads, and everyone in-between. Seeing their efforts and their joy makes me cry… Donors, please know that even the simplest of movements make a big difference in our lives – they keep us well and happy, which spreads outward to make for a better world.”

Scenes from KMA - Enjoy these photos from our 2025 programming!

Scenes from KMA, April 2024

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We completed our latest Free Community Yoga project this month. Many thanks to the West Side Community Fund, our major funder for this project. We’re also grateful for the additional general support provided by the Marta Heflin Foundation and our generous donors. From February 1 to April 13 KMA offered 31 free yoga dance classes to the community. We served 51 distinct individuals, including 30 residents from our neighborhood, Hell’s Kitchen. Our Yoga for Special Needs and Accessible Yoga classes served 21 individuals with disabilities and 25 seniors. Our Yoga Dance Flow class served actors, dancers, and writers, among others. Here’s what one participant said about the classes:

KMA was my first experience with yoga and I adore it! A neighbor recommended Paul's class while I recuperate after a traumatic brain surgery and navigate the effects of a frozen shoulder. Paul's class focusing on "special needs yoga" has been such a terrific experience! Paul is a great teacher who instills confidence and calmness in all his students. The classes are well run and it's been the highlight of my week since I began in February. I am so grateful to have Paul and his yoga class in my neighborhood! Thank you.

Enjoy viewing photos of our project, and the joy, calmness, and healing it brought to our community:

Photo Credits: Paul Keoni Chun. Jen Yip, Ian Essel

Scenes from KMA, October 2023

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This month our special dancers learned dance skills in accessible ways and helped create unique ways of moving as part of our Creative Learning Dance Project, 2023. And our Free Community Yoga Project is in full swing, serving the residents of Hell’s Kitchen, as well as inspiring seniors at Encore Community Services. Our new fiscal year began on Oct. 1st, and so far we’ve served 49 distinct individuals - 40 of whom are seniors and/or have a disability. Enjoy these photos and video of our recent impact!

Chair Yoga Dance for Encore Community Services

Photo and Video Credits: Nieves Taveras, Richard Moore, Ed Gonzalez, Andrew Pacho, Paul Keoni Chun.