“My continued passion for dance stems from a desire to express myself creatively and movement allows communication when words fail.”
APPROACH TO CLASS:
My philosophy of teaching is to provide a classroom environment where students are encouraged to express their own ideas and participate in their educational experience. Although I stress individual responsibility for learning in the class, I provide clear explanations and guidance through instruction. I want my students to enjoy the interaction in my classroom, freely express themselves through movement, and to be challenged to learn and to try new things. I use active learning techniques to draw individuals into class discussions and movement exercises. By using these active learning techniques, I hope to help my students understand they are responsible for their own educational experience where I can serve them as a mentor and guide.
AGES TAUGHT:
Jesse’s classes at Joy of Motion are for our KidMotion students, children ages 2-5.
LEVELS TAUGHT:
KidMotion. Outside of Joy of Motion, Jesse has taught classes for adults of varying levels.
STYLES TAUGHT:
Jesse has taught Creative Movement, Dance Basics, Beginning Tap, Jazz, and various levels of Ballet with Joy of Motion. Outside of Joy of Motion, Jesse has taught ballet and contemporary.
TRAINING/CERTIFICATIONS:
Andalusia Ballet Association. Troy University. JD from The University of Mississippi.
SOCIAL MEDIA
Instagram: @jessdkelleySchedule:
Get to Know Jesse
What is your teaching philosophy?
My philosophy of teaching is to provide a classroom environment where students are encouraged to express their own ideas and participate in their educational experience. Although I stress individual responsibility for learning in the class, I provide clear explanations and guidance through instruction. I want my students to enjoy the interaction in my classroom, freely express themselves through movement, and to be challenged to learn and to try new things. To encourage student participation, I use active learning techniques to draw individuals into class discussions and movement exercises. By using these active learning techniques, I hope to help my students understand they are responsible for their own educational experience where I can serve them as a mentor and guide.
What styles do you teach and who influences your teaching?
I focus mainly on teaching ballet technique. As a life-long student of dance as well, I enjoy the structure that ballet provides and believe that as I come to better understand how my body moves, I can apply that to other styles of dance. What I find most inspiring is a new generation of professional dancers sharing their love for dance and specifically for ballet and making it accessible to a broader audience: Misty Copland with her book Firebird, Isabella Boylston posting Instagram and TikTok videos, and Sergei Polunin performing to contemporary music.
Why do you share dance?
Jesse’s Bio
Jesse Kelley previously taught ballet to students of varying ages at Oxford Ballet School in Oxford, Mississippi. While with OBS, Jesse performed as a soloist and in annual performances of The Nutcracker. From 2011 to 2014, Jesse served as choreographer and dancer for Hinge Dance Company – a professional contemporary company for adults. Jesse received training in ballet, jazz and contemporary from Andalusia Ballet Association in Andalusia, Alabama, and through the course of her dance career, has performed in variations of many classical ballets like Les Sylphides and Paquita. While earning an undergraduate degree, Jesse danced with the Sound of the South Dance Team at Troy University and captained the team in 2010. Joining Joy of Motion in 2017, Jesse is excited to share her love to dance with her students and colleagues.
