
KIM NEO
Samba Instructor
Kim was first introduced to the dance world at the age of 10 through the unique sport of marching, known today as Drilldance. She devoted 10 years to this very competitive sport, taking out 3x national titles and in 2012 reached the finals of Australia’s Got Talent with her senior team, The Black Diamonds, now known as Enigma. In 2023 Kim participated in the Australia & New Zealand Drilldance and Marching Inaugural Tattoo with her team being awarded the best performance of the night. Drilldance taught Kim discipline in training, how to perform under pressure and she is now the go-to instructor for working the perfect formation.
While participating in Drilldance, Kim experimented with other styles of dance. She spent 2 years from 1999 to 2001 training in Scottish dancing and then in 2008 she discovered Latin dance where she learnt various styles such as salsa, bachata and zouk. It was through the Adelaide dance scene in 2012 where she was first exposed to samba and her love for this style was ignited. Within a year of training in samba, Kim was training professionally and had the opportunity to perform in Jakarta, Indonesia for the Lacopa Charity Ball.
Her other highlights include:
Performing with Todd McKenny for the Royal Flying Doctors Service Wings for life fundraiser in 2016
Winning the SA Tropicana competition in 2020 with a Brazilian Funk routine choreographed and performed alongside Felipe Rodrigues.
Multiple performances in Brisbane’s World Salsa Solo competition, placing 1st in Amateur Samba Solo (2014), 2nd in Semi-Professional Samba Solo (2015), 1st in Semi-Professional Samba Solo (2016), and 1st in Open Samba Shines Team (2019).
Wanting to connect to her cultural background, Kim has travelled and lived in China to better understand and speak the language and in 2016 completed a Bachelor’s degree in Chinese Language and Culture. 2016 was also the year Kim began teaching samba which had led her to further deepen her understanding and passion for it.
In January 2024 to further her training and development, Kim went to Rio de Janeiro to train and perform in the Rio Carnaval. As well as attending regular classes and training with top artists, Kim paraded as a Musa for Unidos de Bangu and paraded for Belford Roxo in Carlinhos Salgueiro’s ala (wing). This was an experience that has deepened Kim’s connection to and understanding of samba, as well as igniting her passion in the representation of samba.
Samba has brought Kim community and long-term friendships. She continues to learn and showcase samba in its truest form to the best of her ability and believes in respecting and upholding its cultural integrity.