Karlies Kelley

Karlies Kelley

panadanza@icloud.com
414-350-2940 Instagram

Karlies Kelley, a native of Panama thriving in Milwaukee for over 15 years as a multidisciplinary movement artist. She earned her BFA and MFA in African Diaspora Dance from the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee. Her constant research and passion for people, culture, and adventure continue to mold her into a versatile movement artist navigating traditional, modern and post-modern forms in a broad range of settings and communities. Her curiosity has allowed her to travel across the world, most recently, Ivory Coast where she developed her thesis “Belonging: Finding Home Through African Diaspora Dance”. She founded Panadanza Dance Company in 2008 as a way to stay connected with her roots, to build a community around music and dance, and to create safe, healing spaces for women and young people. Karlies is the co-founder of non-profit Flutes at Dawn, actively involving Milwaukee youth and adults to move, sing, and play in positive and unifying ways. She believes “dance belongs to all, in all spaces, dance is key to living a more colorful and meaningful life!”  Karlies teaches a class on Monday nights here at the Delaware House.  Contact her directly to find out more about her class.

Karlies Kelley Vedula, MFA
(she/her/ella)
panadanza.com
414.350.2940