Background, professional training and performance history
Kellee has been dancing and tumbling for over 30 years. She began dancing and tumbling in her living room and then moved on to train at American Gymnastics Training Center, San Francisco Circus Center, Nesbitt dance studio, University of Oregon, and University of Hawaii. She has performed and competed up and down the West Coast, in Hawaii and New York City but has been focusing on teaching and developing her curriculum over the past ten years. Kellee owned and ran a dance studio in Eugene and then opened Calliope dance studio in San Francisco which is still going strong. Most recently she took her curriculum to Columbia, South America to teach displaced and disadvantaged children. Kellee has been teaching for 20 years and she is happy to be starting her first year at the Shedd after recently returning to her home town of Eugene, Oregon.
Artist statement and teaching philosophy
"I believe in nurturing a child's natural desire to imagine and create while establishing a strong foundation in dance. I believe children gain much more than just physical enrichment through dance and gymnastics. Through dance, creative movement, and tumbling, children not only develop motor skills, balance, and flexibility, but also confidence, creativity and self-expression. I feel it is important to foster the natural joy and expression young children possess, so when they are older and able to focus more on technique, they can do so while still holding onto their love of movement. I strive to create a learning environment for my students that feels like play. Though I specialize in teaching children ages three to seven, I welcome students of all ages, and I truly enjoy sharing my love of dance and movement with others"
Instruments & classes taught
"Kellee Blanchard teaches, creative movement, ballet, tumbling, and tap to children of all ages. She also has experience in teaching adults ballet, and swing, and lessons to couples in preparation for a first dance for their wedding."