Phyllis Wheatley to the Present: Kimberly Caprini Opens Doors for Youth Through Dance
Kimberly Caprini is laser-focused on putting children in front of as many opportunities as possible. That is why she approached Lundstrum Performing Arts with a proposal to partner with Phyllis Wheatley Community Center in north Minneapolis, where she serves as a program manager.
"It’s our responsibility to provide kids with opportunities. That’s how they learn to become their authentic selves."
— Kimberly Caprini, Phyllis Wheatley Community Center
“A colleague’s daughter was a premier dancer and she taught three sessions at Phyllis Wheatley before she went off to dance with Alvin Ailey,” says Caprini. “I saw how interested and dedicated the parents and students were and I just thought we need to give these kids more opportunities.”
Kimberly Caprini (middle) with Phyllis Wheatley Community Center students at Lundstrum Performing Arts North Wing Studio.
“Kimberly Caprini is the real deal- with a smile that reaches deep, she is molding young lives. A true mentor, full of love, commitment and talent.
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She pitched the idea of a beginning ballet class to Shane Ellis, Lundstrum’s Education and Community Engagement Coordinator. “We don’t have space at our center so I thought, why not bring the kids to Lundstrum?” she says.
The weekly class, which recently wrapped up its first session, was a huge hit. “Lundstrum has so much to offer,” Caprini says. “Kids can see careers paths and take advantage of scholarship opportunities. They learn something that takes practice and discipline. If this class sparks anything, that’s winning for me.”
Caprini herself was a ballet student of Dorothy Lundstrum. She grew up on the north side, just a few blocks from Ascension School, which she and her eight siblings attended. In middle school, she was chosen to be part of a show that Dorothy was choreographing. “I remember feeling so special. I knew how important it was to me to perform well and represent my community. I thought Dorothy was so beautiful, but she was also tough. She meant business. She’d say, ‘If I have to tell you to do it again for the third time, you can go back to class.’ I might have thought that was too tough but now I know that was caring.”
Caprini continued to dance in high school and perform in theater at Benilde St. Margaret’s and later took African dance. “I think it is so important for kids to experience a little bit of everything,” she says. “And if what you want to do is not in your community center or building, then I want to find other avenues for families to access programming. I have always admired the Casserly sisters so this partnership made total sense to me.”
She hopes to find the resources to continue the relationship with Lundstrum. “It’s our responsibility to provide kids with opportunities. That’s how they learn to become their authentic selves. It’s our job to build up who they are.”