Kelly Kledzik Biography
Owner, Artistic Director and Principal Instructor
Full Circle Dance Center
Kelly Kledzik started her dance career at age four at Peggy Leah’s studio of dance, later called The Dance Connection in Grayslake, studying Ballet, Tap, and Jazz throughout her entire student education. Her solid Ballet/Pointe foundation came from Pat Foster and Diane Peterson, who studied with t
he Joffrey Ballet in New York City. She received extensive Tap training from Tap Legend Al Gilbert and her love of Hoofing from Tap Master Bruce Stegman. She also studied Jazz at Gus Giordano’s, one of the epicenters for true Jazz dance. Kelly started her teaching career at the studio she grew up at, teaching Ballet, Tap and Jazz. She formed her first dance company called Spotlight, which she co-directed for 10 years and grew into a company of 45 dancers. Spotlight's greatest competitive achievement was a 9th Place National finish as well as multiple top state placements. Spotlight was best known for giving back to the community, with multiple yearly performances at nursing homes, day care centers, shopping malls, and community events. Five years at Marcia's Dance Studio in Buffalo Grove gained Kelly popularity not only as an instructor and choreographer, but as a private dance team coach where she successfully landed many dancers on teams in the competitive dance world of Stevenson High School. Living in Wauconda, Kelly was thrilled to give back to her community by teaching at The Academy of Ballet Wauconda, starting the first season the studio opened. Working from the ground floor up, she built the Jazz, Tap and Hip Hop classes into highly successful programs as well as create Jazz/Hip Hop and Tap Company programs of over 50 students combined. Kelly was well known in the community for her innovative choreography at recitals and outreach performances as well as her ability to connect with students, which continually brought them back to her classes for 12 years. Kelly has worked at Encore Dance Center in Vernon Hills for 12 years, teaching Jazz, Ballet, Hip Hop, Lyrical, Turns and Leaps, and Pom and heading Bravo Performing and Competition companies where her unique choreography in Jazz and Hip Hop has garnered multiple Judges Choice awards. Kelly owned a business called Dance Fit Fun for 13 years, teaching creative movement at preschools and daycare centers, forming her love of teaching toddler students as young as 18 months old. Years of technical knowledge and eye for talent has made Kelly a popular judge in the dance, pom/dance team, talent and pageant worlds. She is also a sought after choreographer for dance soloists, dance teams, and musicals. One of Kelly's greatest personal accomplishments was competing against hundreds of dancers and earning a spot on The Chicago Bulls Luvabulls dance team during their 2nd Championship Season. This prestigious position brought a high level of responsibility as a dancer as well as a representative of the Chicago Bulls organization. This experience created a demand for her expertise in dance team and hip hop at the middle school, high school and college levels. Kelly’s loyalty to her students has contributed to her dancers becoming instructors and studio owners, obtaining degrees in dance performance and teaching, as well as landing spots on college dance/cheer teams. She keeps in touch with many of her former students as they are always part of her dance family. With over 30 years of dance educator experience, Kelly teaches all student skill and age levels in Jazz, Tap, Ballet, Lyrical, Hip Hop and Dance Team, as well as a multitude of styles within each genre of dance. She continues her dance education by attending master classes, dance conventions, and teacher-sharing classes so she can continue to grow as an instructor and also share the latest trends. Kelly believes in passion and hard work, but more importantly having FUN!
