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She was a member of the Lassie Dance Team in High School and her Senior year, was voted by her classmates as the "Best Female Dancer" of their class. Her passion for music and dance has been evident since birth. Routines are a breeze for her, but performing is nauseating. Brent is her rock, and when they hit the floor she totally focuses on him. It was Brent who taught Kellese how to Shag. The challenge of Shag, coupled with the continuing study of WCS, is pure joy for Kellese. Kellese also has a great knack for teaching. This is ironic. When she first started, she wouldn't count anything and would simply “feel” her way through the dance. But through the years, Kellese has studied hard and is now quite capable of communicating / teaching her thoughts of connection, centering and the importance of dance basics. Kellese’s most enjoyable and satisfying competitions have been and continue to be with Brent. They are connected in so many ways and on so many levels, and dancing is just one of the few things they love to share. Kellese’s primary dance mentors are Brent and Mario Robau. Mario, a special friend whom they truly admire, has been coaching and choreographing for Brent & Kellese from the very beginning. The women who have influenced Kellese's style are Annie Hirsh, Sharlot Bott, Jackie McGee, Lisa Clements and Sarah Vann Drake. She is very thankful to each of them. Kellese has danced with many greats – starting with Barry Jones, Ramiro Gonzales, Brent Key, Mario Robau, Robert Cordoba and Parker Dearborn to name a few. She was the first female to win both Classic and Showcase Division Championships at the US OPEN and she earned the prestigious Feather Award in 1998 as "Most Outstanding Showcase Swing Dancer". With Brent, she has won the US OPEN Classic Division Championship three times – 1998, 2000 and 2003 – a stunning achievement. What will the future bring? More study, more practice, more teaching, more competing, and, hopefully, many more Championships. The sky’s the limit with Kellese. But no championship, no trophy and no amount of fame means as much to her as spending 3 minutes on a dance floor with Brent. He is the “dance of her life”.
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