Kelley Holt

Kelley Holt was born in Richmond, VA, and grew up with a strong background in competitive dance, including ballet, tap, jazz, lyrical, contemporary and acrobatics. She received her bachelor of arts in dance from Old Dominion University in December 2020. Holt was also a part of ODU’s NCAA Division I Dynasty Dance Team beginning in 2018. She performed at the Neon Festival in Norfolk, VA, in 2019 and the American College Dance Festival at the University of Maryland in March 2020.

In May 2021, she performed in Todd Rosenlieb’s spring ensemble concert until she moved to Roanoke, VA, to begin graduate school with a fellowship degree. She finished with a master of fine arts in July 2022. At ODU, she discovered her passion for contemporary dance and performing. She was inspired to choreograph at Hollins University and found interest in composition. She choreographed three dances during her year in graduate school, one of which was her final thesis creative manifestation performance. The Hollins University library holds a copy of her thesis book, Disembodying Toxicity: the Use and Abuse of Young Bodies in Competition Dance.

In September 2022, Holt returned to the Hampton Roads area and performed with Todd Rosenlieb’s professional dance company. Her passion for dance and academia led her to Dallas in April 2024, where she embarked on a PhD in dance at Texas Woman's University. Her research interests are focused on the psychology of pedagogy in private competitive dance spaces. She aims to use reality television shows such as Dance Moms, Toddlers and Tiaras, Bring It, and So You Think You Can Dance to understand the power of film editing in shaping the perspective of competition dance culture for an outside audience.