It's 9:45 p.m. on a Thursday night and a dozen young dancers are just beginning an hour-long rehearsal. It's late, but the dancers are full of energy, inspired by the cause for which they dance.
They're all members of Kalamity, an adult hip hop dance performance group, or Kaos, the youth version of the group. Both have the same mission: helping families facing calamities by raising funds and awareness through dance. Under the direction of former professional dancer Tia Stokes, they rehearse together at her St. George dance studio, The Vault.
Before they begin moving to the groove, however, they first gather in a circle to remember why they dance.
"We are Kalamity at The Vault dance studio, brought together as a team and family by the hand of God to further and use our talents to support, love, strengthen and lift those who stand in need through their own personal life calamities," they say in unison. "As we stand for something bigger than ourselves, let us conduct ourselves in a manner of positive attitude, service, giving, hard work and charity through our everyday lives. Let us never forget the reason we are blessed with talents, which is never for ourselves but for the blessing and benefit of another."
Then they pray. The focus of this particular prayer is Kalamity's 2015 cause, the Terry family of St. George. Kycie Terry, the 5-year-old daughter of Josh and Jamie Terry, was diagnosed in January with Type 1 diabetes. Complications from a late diagnosis led to extensive brain damage. Kycie is still recovering at Primary Children's Medical Centerin Salt Lake City.



The dance groups will perform May 15 at Dixie High School to raise money and awareness for Kycie. Other fundraisers, including another major dance concert in December, will help maintain their focus on the Terry family throughout the year.
Kycie's father, Josh, says she is scheduled to be released on Friday and to start out-patient rehabilitation through Dixie Regional Medical Center in St. George the following day — the day of the performance.
"I'm amazed at what Kalamity stands for and what they believe in," Josh says. "We are humbled that they would choose Kycie as their 2015 cause."
A 'cause family'


When you become a Kalamity cause, though, it's not just for a year.
You become part of a "cause family," says Luci Koloa, who was the recipient of the group's charity in 2014. Koloa now works as the office manager at The Vault.
"I used to hide in my room, embarrassed; now I answer phones and deal with people, even when I'm not feeling well," says Koloa, who has a neurological disconnect that doctors have been unable to diagnose but prevents her from holding down a regular job. "I hadn't worked for almost seven years."
Life began to turn around for Koloa when she became Kalamity's cause last year. After depending solely on her husband's income of about $2,000 per month, Koloa was finally able to pay off her medical bills, thanks to the funds raised by Kalamity.
Then, in January, Stokes hired Koloa to work at The Vault. Obviously, Stokes is aware of Koloa's condition and they have figured out how to work around it. Some of the dancers even showed up recently to help the Koloa family move.
"Once you say, 'Yes,' it's a rollercoaster of awesomeness," Koloa says of becoming part of the Kalamity cause family.
Now she's ready to welcome the Terrys to that cause family.
Kalamity originated eight years ago when Stokes returned to Southern Utah after a stint as a professional dancer in California. She started a hip hop dance class for adults because she wanted to bring a different kind of dance option to St. George, where hip hop did not necessarily have the best reputation.
"I wanted something that would bring a positive image to hip hop," says Stokes, who was recently named one of St. George Magazine's "40 Under 40."
The word "calamity" had already been on Stokes' mind as a possible inspiration for a group name. Then when one of her dancers was diagnosed with cancer, the group decided to perform and raise money for her. The group's mission was obvious: to help people facing calamities in their lives. Stokes just decided to spell the word with a "K" instead.


Since Kalamity is an adult dance group, Kaos later formed to give some of Stokes' younger students a chance to dance for a cause. When the groups found themselves in need of a place to rehearse, Stokes purchased a studio and began to offer more classes to pay for the space.
Stokes says some business-minded people have told her she has a great promotional tool for her studio, but the studio was only an afterthought. From the beginning, the primary purpose behind Kalamity was service.
"We dance for a cause," Stokes says. "We dance to serve others."
This focus is obvious when visiting The Vault. Photos of Kycie hang on the walls, putting an actual human face on their cause, and posters advertising the awareness/fundraising campaign called "Kisses for Kycie" are all over.
Beyond the specific cause, the group's basic premise is also prominent. Graffiti-style art covers the studio, in line with the hip hop theme but also redirecting the dancers to why they are there: "Dance for a cause not for applause," it reads.
In addition to dancing for primary causes like Kycie and Koloa, the groups also perform for a variety of smaller causes throughout the year. In the past eight years, they have raised more than $250,000 for local families facing calamities.
They also recently started performing at school assemblies to support platforms like anti-bullying and drug abuse-prevention.
Now dancers as young as 3 get a chance to dance for charity. Younger students from The Vault will open up the May 15 concert before Kalamity and Kaos perform.
"It's become a lifestyle for all of us," Stokes says.



Finding a cause
The difficult part is choosing who they will support each year.
Stokes says many of their past causes have been relatively unknown in the community. Kycie is different. Not only has she been the subject of multiple stories produced by Spectrum Media, she's also become something of a poster child for early diagnosis of type 1 diabetes, bringing awareness to parents who have been able to help their own children get diagnosed earlier.
Although Kycie's story is more prominent than past causes, Stokes says she feels as if it's the right cause for Kalamity this year. Stokes describes herself as a woman of faith and believes that God leads her to finding the right cause each year.
However, diabetes also hits home for Stokes. She has four immediate family members with type 1 diabetes, including a sister who performs with Kalamity. She had been wanting to do something with Kalamity to bring about diabetes awareness and Kycie's story presented the opportunity.
"It was perfect," Stokes says. "It was the Lord's timing."
In addition to the performances, Kalamity also creates T-shirts, wristbands and posters for each cause. The sale of these items raises additional funds for those they help.
Because Kycie's story has grown beyond the borders of Southern Utah, Kalamity has also been able to extend its fundraising reach.
"We've sold shirts internationally to support Kycie's cause," Stokes says. "It's been awesome to see how much support this family is getting."
Kalamity too is extending its support beyond the borders of Southern Utah … just barely. In addition to the May 15 concert in St. George, members of the group will travel to Lincoln County, Nevada, where Josh works two days a week, to present a concert in Caliente on May 23.
Josh says he is impressed they would travel 110 miles, one way, for the cause.
"They are a wonderful group of dancers and we look forward to getting to know them better," Josh says. "We are thankful for their dedication and love to Kycie and our family."
For the dancers, it's obvious they love what they do. Some of them even wear "Kisses for Kycie" shirts to the rehearsal.
As they finish their Thursday night practice at 10:45 p.m., they gather again for prayer and Stokes tells them the good news: Kycie is planning to make an appearance at the beginning of the May 15 concert.
"This is what we get to do for service; isn't it awesome?" Stokes asks the dancers, still breathing hard and covered in sweat from their demanding rehearsal. "We don't have to rake leaves or pick up trash. We could, but we get to do this."
The Vault Dance Studio will begin its performance at 6 p.m. May 15, followed by Kalamity and Kaos at 7 p.m. Tickets are $5 in advance or $10 at the door. Tickets are available at The Vault, 175 W. 900 S. Bluff St., No. 16, St. George or from any Vault, Kalamity or Kaos team member. The performance, however, is at Dixie High School, 350 E. 700 South, St. George.
Hungry Howie's and Waffle Love will be on hand at 5 p.m. to provide food before the event. A bake sale and silent auction will also raise additional proceeds, which will go to the Terry family to help with Kycie's medical bills.
For information visit TheVaultDance.com or call 435-216-8974.
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If you go
Kalamity and Kaos performance for Kycie Terry
•When: Food vendors and silent auction at 5 p.m.; dancing begins at 6 p.m.
•Where: Dixie High School, 350 E. 700 South, St. George
•Admission: $5 in advance; $10 at the door. Tickets available at The Vault, 175 W. 900 S. Bluff St., No. 16, St. George or from any Vault, Kalamity or Kaos team member
•Information: Visit TheVaultDance.com or call 435-216-8974