THE ARTISTS: Misa Kelly, M.F.A.
DANCE AT THE TOP OF THE HILL!
photo: Stephen Kelly
Years Dancing: Over 20 years in this body - who knows how many years in other bodies in previous times, places, and spaces. I began my movement explorations chasing three older brothers in Tomboyish exploits. At this time I was introduced to ballet, but with parents with six mouths to feed, and no extra money for lessons, my fantasy of becoming a dancer was put on hold for over 2 decades. My passion for movement segueyed in high school years to equestrianship, body surfing, gymnastics, pantomime, and skateboarding. At the late age of 28 I had a "wake-up" call while going through graduation ceremonies for a degree in business economics with highest honors. Something inside indicated "you aren't done yet." I remembered the passion for dance, tabled the idea of getting a doctorate in economics, and declared a second major in dance.
About Misa Kelly. Misa Kelly has recently passed the reins of being the Artistic Director of SonneBlauma Danscz Theatre to her partner in passion - Stephen. She still choreographs, performs, and teaches for the company but is in the process of launching another company with Joanna Nobbe (living in NYC) called Misa & Jo. Her work as a choreographer has been showcased in Santa Barbara, Los Angeles, Santa Cruz, Pacific Grove, the Monterey Dance Festival and with both Meditative Dance and Çati in Istanbul. Having studied with over 150 dance, yoga, art, movement, and music teachers nationally and internationally she shares this wealth of information in Santa Barbara and abroad as faculty for SonneBlauma Danscz Theatre. In addition to her work with SonneBlauma Misa has performed in the choreography of Christine Loizeaux, Christina McCarthy, Christopher Pilafian, and Tonia Shimin. She has worked with the Mark Parisian Mime Troupe, James Donlon, Motion Dance Theatre, Smudges Performance Group, & Santa Barbara Dance Theatre. Misa is also an avid visual artist & is a part of the group that supports the international group Humanitarian Art Manifesto.
Choreographic works that will be presented:
"Grit": duet performed by Misa Kelly & Melissa Block
"Under No Such Certain Circumstances": duet performed by Misa Kelly & Melissa Block
About the dances:
Grit: As with much of my work "Grit" is very abstract. For the life of me I can't find the words to tell you what it is "about." I created it as a 50th birthday present to myself & am forever grateful to Melissa Block for her willingness to take me somewhere new.
Under No Certain Circumstances: At the time of its creation I was working quite a bit with Joanna Nobbe on some experimental work outside of the studio. Portions of this dance came out of work we did moving in response to the Weston exhibit at the Santa Barbara Museum of Art. Additional images I worked with were sourced from improvisational exercises, slapstick movement from the 3 Stooges, fencing competition, tango, and inspiration drawn from surfing Youtube seeking originality. Under No Certain Circumstances is the first section of an evening length work I am in the process of creating.