Kimberlee Jo Kups-Benson, a seasoned dance professional, began her dance journey at Moser School of Dance and Tumbling in Postville, Iowa, at the age of 3. Her passion for dance, particularly ballet, flourished under the guidance of Lyn M. Neuhaus in Marshalltown. She further honed her skills with various teachers in Marshalltown and Ames, including Miyoko and Robert Thomas. After high school, Kimberlee attended the Dance Educators of America Teacher Training School at Western Kentucky University. She started teaching dance at 14, formed her own performance team at 17, and opened her first studio in Eldora in 1990. She also started teaching at the Marshalltown YMCA-YWCA School of Dance. Now, with 39 years of teaching experience and 36 years of running a dance studio, Kimberlee has taught at numerous institutions and has been involved in many community theater productions. She is a certified member of the National Association of Dance and Affiliated Arts (NADAA) and Acrobatic Arts. She continues to update her skills by taking master classes and is a sought-after judge for talent shows and dance competitions. Kimberlee has taken her students to various cities for classes with top teachers and choreographers. Her students have performed at high-profile events and won several awards. Kimberlee herself has won numerous choreography awards. Many of her former students have pursued careers in dance, and some return to teach master classes at The Dance Konnection. Her competition team consistently wins high point and overall awards, along with studio spirit awards.

Miss Kimi feels blessed she gets to share her love of dance and arts with her home community.