Dana Kelly began dancing in Germany in 1985 at the age of 3 ½. She continued taking lessons and performing in the states with Rhonda and Donna Foote from 1989-1999. She started with Ballet, Tap, Jazz, and Lyrical, then began Modern and Ballet Pointe at the age of 12. She competed with Rhonda’s School of Dance Arts (and later with R&R Dance Centre), in many local, regional, and national talent competitions, placing in the top three with many group and solo pieces. In 1998 Dana spent the summer studying with the Jose Limon Dance Company in Manhattan, where she concentrated on the world-renowned Limon technique under the instruction of Nina Watt, Carlos Orta, Brady MacDonald (also an alumni of Rhonda and Donna Foote), and countless others. During High school she was a member of chorus, Jazz Rock (an elite, audition only, vocal/dance ensemble), Bi-County Jazz Choir, and participated in NYSMMA solofest, and musical productions. In 1997 she played the supporting role of Zaneeta Shinn in The Music Man, and in 1999 she played the lead role of Laurey Williams in Oklahoma!. She was also Vice President of National Honor Society, an avid member of the IR chapter of S.A.D.D., Homecoming queen, and MVP Varsity cheerleader (where she co-choreographed many competition routines). Upon graduation of High school, she won a performance scholarship to Manhattanville College, where she double-majored in Dance and Dance Therapy with a minor in Psychology. During her freshman year she was in the cast of dancers on MTV’s Direct Effect and auditioned for the Radio City Rockettes where she got a call-back. Dana completed a Dance Therapy internship in Jackson Heights in Queens, where she worked with developmentally delayed 2-5 yr olds. She taught a summer Dance Therapy workshop at Rhonda’s studio in 2001. She suffered an unfortunate accident in the 2nd semester of her junior year during a rehearsal and had to have intensive, invasive, reconstructive knee surgery. She took a year and a half off for physical therapy, and returned to complete her degree with a major in Psychology/Dance Therapy. She was fortunate to work with Limon’s Carlos Orta once more when he guest choreographed a modern piece (in which Dana was featured) for the Mville Dec. 2004 Dance Concert shortly before his untimely passing. Dana recently returned to the North Country following the birth of her son, Gabriel, and looks forward to reconnecting and working with her most influential dance instructor of all, Rhonda Foote.
