ABOUT ME
Kellye
I'VE BEEN A DANCER
all my life
I grew up in a dance studio in my hometown of Maryville, Tenn., and rarely missed a class. I loved everything about my studio. It was above the student center, in an old building on a local college campus. You had to walk up four flights of rickety stairs to get to my studio. The space had old wood floors, big glass doors, and out of tune pianos. To me, it felt like something out of New York City.
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I took as many classes as I possibly could and was there six days a week. My mom would drop me off after school and I would stay several hours every day. I loved it!
I JOINED THE BALLET COMPANY
IN MIDDLE SCHOOL
We performed ‘The Nutcracker’ at the holidays and a different ballet each spring. ‘The Nutcracker’ was by far my favorite because we performed at the biggest theater in town for weeks at a time. There was a great deal of spectacle and pageantry with everything from the sets to the costumes to the dressing rooms. I really felt like a star!
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In high school, I started performing in musical theater shows in and around Knoxville, Tenn. While I loved to sing and dance, I was really fascinated with the choreography and wanted to see if I could do it too. So, I started choreographing for local shows for free, just to get the practice. Turns out, I had a knack for choreographing and not long after I started, I was making money doing it… as a high schooler! I went from living at a dance studio to spending all my time at the theater. I loved every minute of it!
MEANWHILE, MY MOM OWNED A PERFORMING ARTS STUDIO IN
downtown Knoxville.
SHE HIRED ME TO CHOREOGRAPH FOR HER DANCE TEAMS
and run her summer camps. It was such a great gig for a high schooler/soon to be college student! I loved It so much, I decided to go to the University of Tennessee so I could still work at her studio. My students meant a great deal to me. They were all so talented. It truly was a joy to work with them.
I’m still friends with a lot of them to this day!
IT WAS A GREAT TIME
in my life
I worked at my mom’s performing arts institute, I was a majorette for the University of Tennessee Pride of the Southland Band, and I even was assistant coach for the UT Dance Team. What a thrill!
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After college, I moved to Chicago to dance for the Chicago Bulls – The Luvabulls. It was such an honor for me to be on that team with so many talented dancers. The choreographer was amazing, and I respected her so much. I learned a great deal from her! It was an experience I will never forget.
Unfortunately,
I SUFFERED A BAD KNEE INJURY THAT ENDED MY TIME WITH THE LUVABULLS.
I was devastated. I decided to move to Atlanta to be closer to home. It was too hard, too painful, and too expensive for me to stay in Chicago, so I packed up and headed south.
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I never did find a dance home in Atlanta, so slowly but surely, I eventually stopped dancing altogether. But, other wonderful things happened in Atlanta. I worked for Radio Disney, met my husband, had my first child, and bought my first house. While things looked different for me, I was happy and ready to move forward with this new chapter in my life.
FAST FORWARD 13 YEARS
I'M NOW LIVING IN CHARLOTTE, N.C.,
I have two boys, ages 12 and 14, I’ve been married for 21 years, and I live in an amazing house in an incredible neighborhood. I love my life!
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In March of 2021, on a whim, I decided to do a little dance and post it on Instagram. Looking back on that video now, I look terrified! But, that one leap of faith started it all. Now I’m dancing again in front of thousands, sometimes millions of people on social media. I love to choreograph my own dances when I can, and I’m absolutely thrilled when I see other people learn and perform them. What a treat!
THE DOORS THAT HAVE OPENED FOR ME AS A RESULT HAVE BEEN INCREDIBLE
I’ve partnered with several brands
THAT I ABSOLUTELY LOVE;
I’ve started helping women my age feel more confident and beautiful with makeup tips and tricks, and I’ve even been approached by a few reality TV shows.
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Two years ago, had you told me what I would be doing now, I never would have believed you. But, I’m so grateful to be where I am today, sharing my passion, and spreading joy. Nothing makes me happier.
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Thank you so much for being here. I’m tickled pink that you stopped by. You made my day.