An award-winning veteran educator with a lifelong passion for the arts, Kimberly Leeds brings a multifaceted perspective to the students at DIOC. As a dancer, artist, and naturalist interpreter, Kimberly has spent her life exploring the intersection of movement and the natural world. Having studied global music and dance styles through extensive world travel, she views movement as a vital tool for connection—to oneself, to others, and to the environment. Now, she’s bringing that energy to DIOC, where she integrates movement across the curriculum to spark hands-on learning. Usually the first one on the dance floor, Kimberly is on a mission to help students know themselves better through the joy of dance.

Whirled Beat is the brainchild of Laguna Beach local and dance instructor Kimberly Bixler Leeds. This eclectic class invites participants to "dance to their own beat" within a shared community. As an environmental activist, Kimberly believes that honoring global cultures through dance can inspire a deeper stewardship of the Earth. Each session is a living choreography where the unique energy and style of every dancer shape the experience. From Latin American and West African rhythms to the foundations of Modern, Jazz, and Ballet, Whirled Beat celebrates the "synergy of the dancers." The name itself is a play on words, blending the cross-rhythms of World Beat music with the physical and spiritual movement of the soul.