Kelai

Kelai has been performing on stage since the age of three. She began belly dancing in the summer of 2002 and became quickly enamored of the dance, learning much of the foundation techniques through specialized videos and DVDs offered by the some of the nation’s top dance instructors. Kelai later went on to study directly with her mentor, Delilah, founder of Visionary Dance Studios. Kelai has also studied with local instructors Isis of Indiana and Mona Simone, and has attended workshops offered by Sonia of the Bellydance Superstars and Laura Rose.

In 2000, Kelai earned her high school diploma from the Louisville Youth Performing Arts School with a major in Theatre Arts. In 2005, she graduated from the University of Louisville with a Bachelor of Science in Theatre Arts. Most recently, Kelai graduated in May 2008 with her Master of Fine Arts in Writing from Spalding University .

Currently, Kelai enjoys instructing Belly Dance at the downtown YMCA, teaching the dance as it was taught to her; as a tool for personal growth. Her philosophy reaches back to the dance’s origins and to its celebration of the female soul and form. Today, Kelai promotes the dance as not only a way to achieve fitness and life enrichment, but also as a way for women (and men) to develop and hold a strong positive body image.

In August of 2006, Troupe Oasis, like an amoeba of beauty, formed itself out of several dedicated members in Kelai’s advanced belly dance class. Together, they choreograph, brainstorm and perform as a team, appearing in special functions around Louisville and Indiana , taking on the dance with a wild, off-beat and sometimes frightening tenacity. Proudly, they are the Pretty Ponies of the belly dance world. 

When not belly dancing, Kelai can be found working on and conducting research for her young adult novel, contemplating Poe, playing DDR, rough-housing with her dog, Annabel, sipping coffee and, often, buried deep within the pages of a good book.

You can fin more information about Kelai at kelai.moonfruit.com.