Kelli Brown

Kelli Brown:

Kelli Brown is the founder of Off Center Dance and Artistic Director for Flamenco Idaho. While with OCD, Ms. Brown choreographed over 30 modern dance works and 5 short dance videos. Her flamenco journey has taken her to Spain nine times including multiple grants to study in Granada. She was an adjunct professor at Boise State University/College of Western Idaho and a dance educator at Idaho Arts Charter School. Ms. Brown has performed with groups including, Certamen (Carlota Santana Flamenco Vivo of NY, in the Kennedy Center), Flamenco Idaho, Off Center Dance, MahaVia, Flux, Boise Dance Co-op, Drop Dance Collective, and Idaho Dance Theatre.

In addition to her performance work, she has choreographed for Alexa Rose Gallery, Drop, College of Southern Idaho and University of Texas, PanAmerica. Brown has taught flamenco workshops for the College of Southern Idaho, Idaho State University and set work on Idaho Dance Theater. She obtained her Master of Arts in Dance from California State University, Long Beach and her MFA in dance performance and choreography from the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee. She was a three year member of the Artist Development Series with Carlota Santana Flamenco Vivo of NY (2020-23).

Ms. Brown has been the recipient of Jacob's Pillow Grant (2019), NWPE Grant for Flamenco Dance (2018), Alexa Rose Foundation Artist Grant (2017, 2022), Fund for Teachers Grant (2015, 2023)/Circle Grant (2024), Boise Arts and History AiR Award (2009) /Catalyst (2024) and project grant (2010, 2015), Idaho Commission on the Arts Awards (2010/2022), a Surdna Foundation Fellowship (2010), Bates Dance Fellowship (2011, 2013), and was awarded IDEO Dance Educator of the year 2016.

She was trained by her maestra Julianna Thomas and has completed additional training with some of the following flamenco artists: Belen Maya, Belen Lopez, Concha Jareno, Cristina Hall, Fanny Ara, Emilio Ochando, Rina Orellana, Adriana Maresma Fois, Jesus Carmona, Lakshmi Basile, Javier Martos, Raimundo Benitez, Laura Onizuka, Eve Salonen, Irene La Sentio and many more!

To burn with desire and keep quiet about it is the greatest punishment we can bring on ourselves.

-Federico Garcia Lorca