KAHINA HAYNES

I’m not here to rewrite dance, health, or inclusion; I’m here to widen their stage so everyone fits.

cultural strategist

non-profit
leader

dance advocate

researcher

Keeping people out doesn’t make something great. It just makes it smaller.

ABOUT ME ❊

As a researcher
I use data, behavioral science, and human experience to drive effective change.

01

As a national advocate

I push for policies that make movement & the arts more accessible—because these things aren’t side projects, they’re essential to a thriving society.

02

As a leader

I am the Executive Director of the Dance Institue of Washington (DIW), where we prove—every day—that talent is everywhere, but opportunity isn’t.

03

As a speaker and educator

I challenge institutions to look at who they’ve been leaving out and give them the tools to fix it.

04

As a human

I refuse to let talent go to waste just because the system wasn’t built for it. Because I know firsthand what it feels like to be told, 'You don’t belong here.' And I know firsthand what happens when you prove them wrong.

05

Talent is everywhere,
opportunity isn’t.

First-ever dance industry rep appointed to the U.S. President’s Council on Sports, Fitness & Nutrition.

WHAT I TALK ABOUT

Excellence Without Exclusion

Challenging the myth that elite standards require keeping people out. How expanding access actually creates stronger, more innovative organizations.

  • Redefining "culture fit" and "qualifications".

  • Case studies from elite ballet to corporate boardrooms.

  • The business case for inclusive excellence.

Policy & National Advocacy

Connecting lived experience with research and policy to create scalable change. Insights from serving on the Presidential Council.

  • Movement, sports, and arts as essential infrastructure.

  • Evidence-based policy development.

  • Scaling local solutions to national impact.

Systems Change & Inclusion

How to redesign systems that create barriers and transform them into gateways for talent. Moving beyond "good intentions" to evidence-based change.

  • Diagnosing exclusion in organizational systems.

  • Building infrastructure for sustainable inclusion.

  • Measuring impact beyond representation numbers.

Featured in:
Press and media

Princeton Alumni Weekly (May 2024)

Article: “The Problem with Ballet,” discussing her personal experiences with racial bias in ballet and her mission to foster inclusivity in dance education.

Health and Fitness Revolution (Nov 2023)

Highlighted for her role on the President’s Council and her advocacy for integrating dance into public health strategies.

Stabroek News (March 2023)

Interviewed regarding her appointment to the President’s Council, where she emphasized the significance of dance in promoting health and wellness.

Book Kahina as a speaker.

Kahina Haynes is a thoughtful and experienced speaker who has shared her perspective with audiences across the nonprofit, education, arts, and public policy sectors.

Her talks combine personal story, data, and practical strategies that help organizations move from intention to action.

Kahina is available for podcast interviews and speaking engagements, both remotely and in person. Her schedule typically allows for bookings with 2–4 weeks' notice.

To discuss having Kahina as a guest on your podcast or event, please fill the following information or contact: Danyale Speight, variationsincco@gmail.com