Kelsey Jones
Since 2019
Kelsey began dancing at age 3 at the MMPAC where she danced with the pre-professional dance company, FX and interned
during her senior year.
Kelsey graduated summa cum laude from Kent State University with a BFA in Dance
Performance. She performed faculty, guest artist, and student works at Kent State, as well as at
the American College Dance Association (ACDA) throughout her tenure. Kelsey’s BFA senior
choreography, Misconceptions, was one of twelve works chosen by blind adjudication to be
presented at the ACDA Conference culminating gala concert. Kelsey was a member of the Kent
Dance Ensemble and served as Student Artistic Director of the ensemble during her senior year.
She also served as Treasurer for the Student Dance Education Organization and was an active
member of Kent State University’s chapter of the National Theatre Honor Society, Alpha Psi
Omega. She also received the following School of Theatre and Dance honors: Dance Scholarship
Award; Kent Dance Ensemble Guest Artists’ Honor Award; May O’Donnell Memorial Dance
Award; L. LeRoy Cowperthwaite Scholarship; and SDEO Peer Awards for Outstanding Dancer and
Outstanding Student Choreographer. Kelsey worked with many guest artists during her tenure
including Garth Fagan, Stephanie Martinez, Christopher K. Morgan, Darwin Prioleau, and Karen
Stokes.
After completing her undergraduate degree, Kelsey continued dancing in NYC. She trained and
served as a marketing intern with the Paul Taylor American Modern Dance Company. She
studied ballet, jazz, modern, contemporary, theater dance, and tap with various professionals
and choreographers at RIOULT Dance NY, Gibney Dance Center, STEPS on Broadway, and
Broadway Dance Center. Kelsey also trained and performed in precision dance styles under
former Rockettes, Rhonda Malkin, and Tara Memi. She began teaching at MMPAC in 2019 upon
returning to Maryland.