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Biography

Cicely A. Kelley has been a Faculty Member Since 2017 and is director of Spelman Dance Theatre and head coach of the ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Jaguarettes Dance Team.

Regardless of the location of the stage, theater, studio, concert venue or even a football field, Kelley, professionally known as CiCi Kelley, has left her mark. After being trained by some of the greatest names in dance at Philadelphia’s University of the Arts, the Atlanta native has forged a career that spans all genres of dance and crosses multiple industries - from sports to advertising to entertainment and beyond.

Kelley’s list of accomplishments is extensive and audiences around the world have been entertained by her dance moves. Her choreography and mesmerizing performances have been featured by the Atlanta Falcons both in national commercials and during halftime entertainment. Other choreography credits include Toni Braxton's European tour, award-winning actor Morgan Freeman for the film Last Vegas, Netflix’s “The Outlaws,” featured dance performance for Beyoncé's "Get Me Bodied" music video, television appearances and many more.

Office Hours:
In-person: Monday, Wednesday - 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. | Tuesday, Thursday - 10 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Virtual: Schedule Appointment
Dr. Mary Schmidt Campbell
Center For Innovation & The Arts Building (CI&A) | Office 402

Cicely Kelley Resume Experience (PDF)

Education

• M.F.A., Dance, The University Of The Arts

• Dance Performance and Choreography, ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ C’ 2022. Pauline E. Drake Scholar

Certifications

• Trauma and Resilience Informed Pedagogy for College Student Wellbeing from Florida State University
• Women In Leadership from Emory University

Courses Taught

• Principles of Jazz

• Jazz Funk

• Commercial Hip Hop

• Ballet

• Choreographing Lives

• Art of Teaching Dance

• Dance for Camera

• First-Year Experience

• Co-director of Spelman Dance Theatre

Research Interests

• Commercial Dance Education

• Film and TV

• Black Performance Theory

• Diasporic Spidering

• Black Female Body in performance through the lens of trans-temporality

Artist Statement

As an artist, my fervent ambition is to craft works that embody the rich tapestry of my upbringing while serving as a conduit for narrating the stories of Black women, mothers, aunts, and beyond for generations to come. I aspire to create art that resonates profoundly, stirring the very essence of those who engage with it. My goal is to provoke introspection and challenge preconceived notions, inspiring viewers to re-evaluate their perspectives and confront their biases. Through my work, I seek to ignite thought, nourish the soul, and, where necessary, provoke the compulsory frustration to foster transformative change within any given environment.

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My Research

• Black Social Dance: Geographies of Freedom In Press. SLIPPAGE publications, October 2025
• 2023 Bronze Lens Film Festival Selected Filmmaker:
• Mellon Grant:
  Co-producer and collaborator In partnership with Northwestern University and Slippage Lab
• Q&A:
•  University of The Arts, 2021. A body of work focused on the Black female body in American culture from past to present, through a trans-temporal lens of a Fictive Sisterhood Kinship.

 

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News and Notes