American dancer and choreographer.
James Kelly was raised in San Diego, and received an MFA in dance from the University of California-Irvine and an MFA from the United States University in San Diego. Living in Chicago, Kelly worked as ballet master of the Joseph Holmes Chicago Dance Theatre and served on the faculties of Lou Conte's Dance Studio, the Chicago Academy of the Arts and as guest instructor for Hubbard Street Dance Company. Kelly's choreographic work debuted at the Giordano Dance Center in 1991, and subsequently his groups of dancers performed at the Ruth Page Theatre in 1992 and 1993, the Harold Washington Library Auditorium in 1995 and 1996, as part of Dance Chicago 97 at the Atheneum, at Northwestern University and at the annual AIDS benefit, "Dance for Life". James Kelly's strong affinity for Mexico led to periods of living and working in Mexico City, where, since 1997, he has been associated with the Campania Nacional de Danza, choreographing and/or staging musical shows.
From the description of James Kelly Choreography Project memorabilia, 1993-1997. (Newberry Library). WorldCat record id: 605066059
