Brianna Taylor Kelly, Artistic Director

Mrs. Taylor Kelly is a professional ballerina of 12 years, and ballroom dancing and Shag extraordinaire. A native of Columbia, South Carolina, Mrs. Taylor Kelly embarked on her ballet journey at the tender age of three. Under the mentorship of renowned artistic director Radenko Pavlovich, she honed her craft, further studying with distinguished instructors such as Stanislav Issaev and Natalya Revich from the prestigious Bolshoi Ballet Academy, where Mrs. Taylor Kelly emerged as a performance soloist. She continued her training at the American Ballet Theatre.

In addition to her strong ballet background, Mrs, Taylor Kelly expanded her repertoire by studying Musical Theatre and Tap under Dedra Daniels-Mount at the Broadway Bound Musical Theatre Company, where she expanded her role from dancer to Ballet Mistress and Tap and Shag Instructor. During her tenure with Broadway Bound's competitive team, she earned numerous overall Diamond and Platinum awards, including the prestigious Triple Threat title, recognizing her excellence in singing, dancing, and acting. Notably, she portrayed Bombalurina in the 2019 Vista Theatre Project's production of Cats. Mrs. Taylor Kelly’s expertise extends into contemporary dance, where she trained under Terrance Henderson and served as a guest artist with the Vibrations contemporary dance company.

Additionally, she was a dedicated member and team captain of the Junior Shag Dance Team, which won the title of 2019 U.S. Open Champions and won the 2019 French Open Swing Dance Championship in Paris, France. In the Pro-Am Division, Mrs. Taylor Kelly and her partner Brennar Goree achieved gold medal status, solidifying her reputation as national and international shag and swing dance champion. A gifted choreographer as well, many of Mrs. Taylor Kelly's pieces have garnered top honors at regional and national competitions.

She has an impressive performance history of twelve seasons as an artist and Principal Dancer with Columbia Classical Ballet, where she worked under the direction of esteemed Artistic Directors Radenko Pavlovich and Brooklyn Mack. Her repertoire includes notable roles such as Odette/Odile in Swan Lake, the Sugar Plum Fairy and Snow Queen in The Nutcracker, Myrtha in Giselle, Nikiya in La Bayadere, Medora and Gulnare in Le Corsaire, and numerous others, including featured roles in contemporary works like Osmos, choreographed by Andile Ndlovu.

Through her studio, Palmetto Conservatory of Dance (PCD), Mrs. Taylor Kelly has directed many full-length ballets, such as Cinderella, The Wizard of Oz, and Aladdin. In partnership with Resident Choreographer Simone Cuttino, PCD has staged numerous ballets that showcased her students dancing alongside professional guest artists from all over the world. PCD has provided these students with the unique opportunity not only to perform but work with and be mentored by notable professionals in the industry. A passionate advocate for dance education, Mrs. Taylor Kelly is committed to nurturing the next generation of dancers by instilling technical skills, perseverance, artistry, and creativity within a nurturing and supportive environment. Her profound love for dance, children, and her community inspired her to establish the Taylor Foundation for the Arts—a non-profit organization dedicated to dance education and outreach. Mrs. Taylor Kelly is dedicated to blending her artistry with her desire to serve and elevate her community through the transformative power of dance.