Meet Our Coaches
Middle School Head Coach
Kayla Draws
Coach Draws is heading into her fourth season as the Head Coach for the Middle School team, and she couldn’t be more thrilled! She had the privilege of dancing on the Hortonville Varsity dance team for three years and spent a year on the UW-Stevens Point collegiate team. Before taking on the role of a coach at Kimberly, she was the Head Coach of the PJ Jacobs dance team in Stevens Point. In her free time, she enjoys spending quality time with her husband, two cats, and her adorable first child! She is excited about continuing to build the Kimberly Middle School dance program.
Middle School Assistant Coach
Ashley Otto
Coach Otto is so excited to be back for the fourth season with KYDT and third year as Assistant Coach for the Kimberly Middle School Team. Dance has been a huge part of her life since the age of 3, starting at the local rec department and continuing at Barb’s Centre for Dance, along with dancing on both the Kaukauna Middle School and Kaukauna High School Dance Teams, where she trained in a wide variety of styles.
Coaching has been an amazing way for her to stay connected to something she has always loved. One of her favorite parts is watching dancers grow throughout the season, not just in their technical skills, but also in their confidence.
Outside of dance, she loves spending time with family, traveling to explore new places, and playing with her dog, Gracie.
She is looking forward to continuing to grow the KYDT program and getting to know the dancers this season!
Elementary Red Head Coach
Kiera Nicolini
Coach Nicolini began dancing at just two years old and fell in love with it immediately. By age seven, she was training and competing in a studio environment, building a strong technical foundation that carried her through her dance career.
She was a dedicated four-year member of the Kimberly Varsity Dance Team and served as Jazz captain her senior year. She continued her dance journey with the UW-Oshkosh dance team for a year.
Coach Nicolini currently teaches at the Heart of the Valley Dance Academy, where she continues to share her passion for dance through training, choreography, and mentorship. In addition, she founded Kiera Choreo, offering private lessons, and is proud to be a contracted choreographer with CJ Dance Choreography and Consulting
Elementary Red Assistant Coach
Yasmin Gracia
Originally from Kansas, Coach Yasmin has a lifelong passion for dance and is excited to share that passion with the Kimberly Youth Dance Team!
She spent ten years dancing with a cultural dance group, serving as a student leader for six of those years. During high school, she was a member of her school’s dance team before continuing her dance journey at Garden City Community College.
After Collège, Coach Yasmin returned to her high school as an assistant dance coach, where she spent over a year helping young dancers develop their skills, confidence, and love for dance.
Now living in Wisconsin, Coach Yasmin is thrilled to be part of the KYDT coaching staff. She is passionate about creating a positive, encouraging environment where every dancer can grow in technique, build confidence, make lasting friendships, and most importantly- have fun!
Coach Yasmin looks forward to an amazing season and can’t wait to help each dancer reach their full potential!