Sean Kelly
Biography
Sean Maurice Kelly is currently the Resident Director for the International tour of the Broadway show ‘An American in Paris’, Directed and Choreographed by Christopher Wheeldon. Mr. Kelly held the position on the U.S. tour, and was the Associate Choreographer for the Broadway production.
He was an Associate Choreographer for ‘Billy Elliot, the musical’ for the Chicago, Toronto, and touring productions. He was the Resident Director for the tour of the Twyla Tharp/Billy Joel production ‘Movin’ Out’. He was previously in the Broadway and touring companies as a swing. He did 2 tours of the musical ‘Swing’ where he was Dance Supervisor and a swing.
Mr. Kelly was born in San Francisco, California. He received his training at Marin Ballet.
After attending the summer program at American Ballet Theatre II, he was invited to join the company.
Two years later Mr. Kelly was offered a contract from Mikhail Baryshnikov to join ABT. But opted to join the Houston Ballet, where he became a Principal Dancer.
He eventually became a Ballet Master. He now returns as Guest Ballet Master and Stager frequently.
Mr. Kelly has distinguished himself in both the classical and contemporary
repertoires.
His principal roles include the Prince in Ben Stevenson’s The Sleeping Beauty, Swan Lake, Cinderella, Don Quixote, Dracula, and Nutcracker; Albrecht in Peter Wright’s
production of Giselle, Colas in Sir Frederick Ashton’s La Fille Mal Gardee, Leads in Sir Kenneth MacMillan’s Manon, Gloria, Elite Syncopations, and Solitaire; Le Corsaire Pas de Deux, principal roles in Harald Lander’s Etudes, George Balanchine’s Theme and Variations, Symphony in C, La Valse, Western Symphony, Tschaikovsky Pas de Deux; Peter Martins’ The Waltz Project; Christopher Bruce’s Ghost Dances, Rooster, and Cruel Garden, Trey McIntyre’s Skeleton Clock, Paul Taylor’s Company B and Sunset, Stanton Welch’s Indigo, and Jiri Kylian’s Symphony in D.
As a guest artist Mr. Kelly has appeared with many regional ballet companies in the United States.
He has appeared in the International Evening of Dance in Vail, Colorado and in the Gala opening of the Vilar Center for the Performing Arts in Beaver Creek, Colorado.
Mr. Kelly created 2 premieres, ‘Sinuosity’ and ‘Patterns’, for Houston Ballet for the Cullen Contemporary Series.
He was the recipient of the Best Partner Award at the International Ballet Competition in Helsinki, Finland.