I had the most amazing interview with CiCi Kelley at her working home of Gotta Dance Atlanta. Sitting there asking her the questions I created, I started to get a deeper insight and it became clear to me why CiCi has been so successful in her career. I thoroughly enjoyed hearing how genuine, heartfelt, and confident she was while answering. Editing proved to be extremely difficult as this video could have easily been 30 minutes ;-) but I hope that you enjoy what I was able to include. Her answers turned into these amazing stories that showed her unyielding love for her daughter, the passion she holds for her students, and how her many jobs as a dancer & choreographer have given her so much knowledge in this craft we all love. The cool part is that she gets her greatest joy in seeing her students accomplish their goals....nothing better than a sharing artist!
I've worked with CiCi a few times throughout the years and one thing that holds true is her lively & vibrant personality! She really brightens a room until you get in one of her classes & she turns into tough stuff! Which is what provoked me to lead with the question of 'What is the difference between teaching and instructing to you?' I wanted to specifically ask her this because, to me, she is a teacher(trainer). She prepares you on all fronts for the stage and that is what every artist should desire out of class. So, go ahead and press play and enjoy my interview with Atlanta's CiCi Kelley!! Before you watch...special thanks to Daryl Foster for your help in creating this video!!!
BIOGRAPHY
A native of Atlanta, renowned choreographer, dancer & producer, CiCi Kelley has accomplished much in her professional career. Her list of accomplishments cross every end of the dance spectrum and genres.
With undergraduate training from The University Of The Arts, her choreography has been seen on national commercials for the Georgia Lottery and Atlanta Falcons, BET's 106th and Park, the 2004 MTV VMA’s, Musiq Soulchild’s “Stir the Senses” Tour, a 12 day European tour with the Fugees, and a stellar performance for 20,000+ fans for the 2013 Russel Athletic Bowl. Also on her list of accomplishments, she has had the opportunity to go on tour with LL Cool J as well as appear in his powerful video along side Jennifer Lopez “Control Myself,” & Outkast’s “Ghetto Music.” Kelley’s work has also been observed in many stage plays across the nation such as The Wilson Pickett Project, Satin Dolls a Duke Ellington Review, and Tell Hell I Ain’t Coming.
Kelley’s amazing performance skills have also been witnessed on TV with the extraordinary Beyonce Knowles in her “Get Me Bodied” music video as well as her 2009 MTV VMA “Single Ladies” performance. MTV has highly favored Kelley twice with appearances on the heavily rotated Emmy Award winning hit tv series, MTV MADE & MTV MADE Head to Head Hip Hop Challenge with Laurie Ann Gibson, Chris Judd & Soulja Boy. Kelley’s work is also gracing stages internationally with Multi Grammy Award winning artist Toni Braxton as her tour choreographer as well as a recent appearances on WE TV’s Braxton Family Values. Director Jon Turtletaub selected Kelley to work along side award winning actors Morgan Freeman, Robert Dinero, Kevin Kline, & Micheal Douglas in the blockbuster hit Last Vegas!
With her talent and skill set in Choreography and dance, Kelley is now filling in the shoes and taking on the role as producer with her production company CK Productions, LLC, with a highly publicized and critically acclaimed 6 year strong choreographers showcase and benefit entitled Phazes Of Love.
Continuing her passion in the arts, Kelley felt the need to fill a void within the framework of traditional training for young dancers. With her drive and passion for instructing, and maternal instinct to encourage, nurture, and cultivate a child with God given talent, Kelley created the DARE.DREAM.DANCE curriculum and foundation to be a vessel for this reason and purpose. Kelley also created the TRIFECTA scholarship to not only create a matriculation process for the youth that train within DARE.DREAM.DANCE., but also to offer a once in a lifetime opportunity to an extremely talented and driven individual to pursue their dreams in the 3 major dance hubs in America.
"During my first years of a professional dancer, I would have loved and greatly appreciated someone to believe in my talent and grant me the opportunity to train with the best of the best in LA, NYC, & ATL. Although I did not have that specific opportunity in my early years, I simply want to be an aid in facilitating another young aspiring dancers dreams!"
-CiCi Kelley
NOT just a hip hop dancer, CiCi attended the University of the Arts in Philadelphia where she received a BA in performing arts with an emphasis in jazz technique. Her choreography has graced the legendary stage of Harlem's, "Showtime at the Apollo" and FOX 29's, Good Day Philadelphia." Her choreography has also been seen on the WB's "Pepsi Smash" and BET's 106th and Park" with Atlanta's very own Ying Yang Twins. She has performed with Grammy winner Lil' Jon, Petey Pablo, and the Ying Yang Twins at the 2004 MTV Video Music Awards in Miami and is in the music video, "Control Myself" with LL Cool J featuring Jennifer Lopez. CiCi has toured with LL Cool J and the Hip-Hop group, A Tribe Called West. Ms. Kelley recently played the role of Josephine Baker in The Rialto Theatre stage play, "Satin Dolls: A Duke Ellington Revue." CiCi was also the choreographer for MTV'S "Made" for the last two seasons. Check CiCi out at www.cicikelley.com
CHECK OUT CICI IN ACTION!!
Birth Your Dream https://vimeo.com/94813762
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