I really didn't know where to put this. But this is about Keltie Colleen.
:] She's awesome and Edmonton Journal wrote something about her.
Ryan is in a bit just the normal they've been dating since 2006.
But yeah.
Clicckk!
Edmonton Journal
Dancer/choreographer says with work and smarts, anyone can live her dream
Sara Ditta, The Edmonton Journal
Published: Wednesday, September 03
EDMONTON - Clutching a gigantic water bottle and sporting a baggy hoodie, runners and big red socks, Keltie Colleen resembles a track star more than a Radio City Rockette.
However, when the music starts inside the south Edmonton studio of Dance Unlimited, the picture changes.
Once Colleen is on her feet, the sweater is discarded and the New York-based dancer doesn't stand still for a moment, while choreographing moves and performing them alongside her teenage students. Back in Edmonton for a weeklong vacation, the twentysomething Sherwood Park native is the embodiment of what many of her students long to be. Colleen followed her dreams when she moved to New York in 2002 to pursue a showbiz career, landing a spot two years later in the legendary Radio City Music Hall precision dance troupe.
Dancer Keltie Colleen taught a class of girls in Mill Woods recently.View Larger Image View Larger Image
Dancer Keltie Colleen taught a class of girls in Mill Woods recently.
John Lucas, The Journal
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"I don't want anyone to give up dancing just because they're not sure about the next step," she said, talking even faster than her feet move on the dance floor. "You owe it to yourself to try."
Taylor Cooksley, a 16-year-old student at Dance Unlimited, has been enjoying Colleen's weeklong stint as teacher.
"She has a lot of heart and you can tell she loves what she's doing."
Cooksley hopes to be a professional dancer one day and found Colleen's presence motivational.
"It makes me feel like I can do it, especially because I'm from a small town too."
Colleen is doing her best to send that message far and wide. She's put together a DVD, From Agents to Auditions, which she's using to spread the same word to girls from any small town, providing tips on headshots, agents, casting and how to get noticed.
"Mostly, I just want to get the information out there about what's possible for dancers in Canada," she said. "You can get to a big city and just get lost."
The aim is to get dancers to arrive at their first audition and act as though it was their twentieth one.
At first, Colleen had to learn about the business the hard way. But she has since had her share of Hollywood experiences, dancing in movies, attending award shows and, most of all, dating a rock star.
At the 2006 MTV Video Music Awards, she met Ryan Ross of the group Panic at the Disco. The two have been dating ever since. Some fans of the group haven't been thrilled about the relationship, posting cruel videos on YouTube and accusing Colleen of using the relationship to help her career.
Despite the publicity, Colleen says the relationship is just like any other.
"I'm just a super normal girl, from a little town in Alberta, who just met someone that I really like," she said. "I really love dancing and it's great to have someone who understands that your first love is going to be your craft and your second love can be them."
A professional dancer's life can include plenty of hard work, rejection and instability, Colleen said.
"I live my whole life not knowing where I'm going to be next week."
Even while she's on vacation, Colleen is working at the studio during the day and promoting herself and her new video by night. She hopes to eventually release a series of DVDs and has also come out with a line of dance tops and pants, showcasing the slogan: "Book me." Choreography is also part of her repertoire and she recently worked as lead choreographer on a video for American R&B artist John Legend.
Colleen will return to the Rockettes this fall but believes the extra hours and hard work during the off-season will eventually come in handy.
"One day, when my legs break down, I'll still have some great stuff in my 'empire,' as I call it."
sditta@thejournal.canwest.com
Sara Ditta, The Edmonton Journal
Published: Wednesday, September 03
EDMONTON - Clutching a gigantic water bottle and sporting a baggy hoodie, runners and big red socks, Keltie Colleen resembles a track star more than a Radio City Rockette.
However, when the music starts inside the south Edmonton studio of Dance Unlimited, the picture changes.
Once Colleen is on her feet, the sweater is discarded and the New York-based dancer doesn't stand still for a moment, while choreographing moves and performing them alongside her teenage students. Back in Edmonton for a weeklong vacation, the twentysomething Sherwood Park native is the embodiment of what many of her students long to be. Colleen followed her dreams when she moved to New York in 2002 to pursue a showbiz career, landing a spot two years later in the legendary Radio City Music Hall precision dance troupe.
Dancer Keltie Colleen taught a class of girls in Mill Woods recently.View Larger Image View Larger Image
Dancer Keltie Colleen taught a class of girls in Mill Woods recently.
John Lucas, The Journal
Email to a friendEmail to a friendPrinter friendlyPrinter friendly
Font:
* *
* *
* *
* *
AddThis Social Bookmark Button
"I don't want anyone to give up dancing just because they're not sure about the next step," she said, talking even faster than her feet move on the dance floor. "You owe it to yourself to try."
Taylor Cooksley, a 16-year-old student at Dance Unlimited, has been enjoying Colleen's weeklong stint as teacher.
"She has a lot of heart and you can tell she loves what she's doing."
Cooksley hopes to be a professional dancer one day and found Colleen's presence motivational.
"It makes me feel like I can do it, especially because I'm from a small town too."
Colleen is doing her best to send that message far and wide. She's put together a DVD, From Agents to Auditions, which she's using to spread the same word to girls from any small town, providing tips on headshots, agents, casting and how to get noticed.
"Mostly, I just want to get the information out there about what's possible for dancers in Canada," she said. "You can get to a big city and just get lost."
The aim is to get dancers to arrive at their first audition and act as though it was their twentieth one.
At first, Colleen had to learn about the business the hard way. But she has since had her share of Hollywood experiences, dancing in movies, attending award shows and, most of all, dating a rock star.
At the 2006 MTV Video Music Awards, she met Ryan Ross of the group Panic at the Disco. The two have been dating ever since. Some fans of the group haven't been thrilled about the relationship, posting cruel videos on YouTube and accusing Colleen of using the relationship to help her career.
Despite the publicity, Colleen says the relationship is just like any other.
"I'm just a super normal girl, from a little town in Alberta, who just met someone that I really like," she said. "I really love dancing and it's great to have someone who understands that your first love is going to be your craft and your second love can be them."
A professional dancer's life can include plenty of hard work, rejection and instability, Colleen said.
"I live my whole life not knowing where I'm going to be next week."
Even while she's on vacation, Colleen is working at the studio during the day and promoting herself and her new video by night. She hopes to eventually release a series of DVDs and has also come out with a line of dance tops and pants, showcasing the slogan: "Book me." Choreography is also part of her repertoire and she recently worked as lead choreographer on a video for American R&B artist John Legend.
Colleen will return to the Rockettes this fall but believes the extra hours and hard work during the off-season will eventually come in handy.
"One day, when my legs break down, I'll still have some great stuff in my 'empire,' as I call it."
sditta@thejournal.canwest.com
