Briana Blair Kelly is a multidisciplinary artist and dance educator in Fredonia, NY. She holds an MFA in Choreography and Performance from SUNY Brockport (2017) and a BFA in Musical Theatre from SUNY Fredonia (2012). Kelly is a Lecturer in Dance at SUNY Fredonia and teaches Jazz, Tap, Musical Theatre Dance, Contemporary, Irish, Ballet, Choreography, Forces & Figures in American Jazz Dance, and Voice & Movement for the Stage. She has presented choreographic works at the Bill Evan’s Somatic Dance Conference, Dance at MuCCC, Nazareth University’s Movement & Dance Weekend Artist Showcase, and multiple Celtic Festivals throughout Central/Western New York. Kelly has presented shows in the Rochester Fringe Festival, one of the United States’ largest Fringe festivals, since 2018. She is the Founder/Artistic Director of ROCeltic, a Rochester-based dance company, as well as a freelance photographer (BriBlairKell Photography) and musical theatre choreographer. 

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Recent choreographic credits: When The Heart Finds Its Rhythm Again (Merrins Fall Chamber Concert 2025), “D.O.A.” – The Lightning Thief (2025), The Weight We Carry, The Hands We Hold, Whispers of Another Life, and Four Elements, One Flow (ROCeltic: The Next Generation 2025), Chessboard Waltz – Alicia’s Lens (Fredonia Young Company 2025), Rhythm in Motion (Fredonia Dance Ensemble 2025), Legally Blonde (SUNY Fredonia 2024), Cabaret (Main Street Studios 2024) Beautiful Imperfections & Resilience (Fredonia Dance Ensemble 2024), Amalgamation & When Expectations Fade, I Find Me (Niagara University Dance Theatre 2023)

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Current projects: ROCeltic, Merrins Fall Chamber Concert (SUNY Fredonia), The Lightning Thief (SUNY Fredonia)

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Upcoming performances: https://www.roceltic.com/upcoming-events

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Research Interests: 

 

Kelly's ​personal and research interests lie in what she calls “Irish-Fusion”. It all began in 2017 with her master's thesis Reverence to Éire: Expanding the Tradition. It was through that creative process that she discovered her choreographic interests and artistic voice. This ignited a tenacious curiosity, which led to the creation of her dance company, ROCeltic, and continues to fuel ROCeltic’s continuous endeavor to unearth the choreographic potential of Irish dance. 

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ROCeltic is a Rochester-based dance company that celebrates Celtic heritage – past, present, and future – through dance and music. They are progressive, with a traditional foundation, and continually strive to unearth the choreographic potential of Irish dance by bridging cultural divides. ROCeltic is proud to offer a unique perspective on Irish dance that continues to transform through the company’s ongoing collaborations with various musicians, composers, choreographers, dancers, and dance styles. 

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ROCeltic Artistic Directing Credits: ROCeltic: The Next Generation (Rochester Fringe Festival 2025), ROCeltic: Sláinte, Raise A Glass to 5 Years! (Rochester Fringe Festival 2024), ROCeltic: Hybridity, Identity, and Roving Irishness (Rochester Fringe Festival 2023), ROCeltic: The Stories We Carry in Our Bones (Rochester Fringe Festival 2022).

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Well-known ROCeltic choreographic works: Rhythmic Conversation, The Tides Between Us, Phil Billy Trio

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Fun Fact: ROCeltic was the opening act for Enter the Haggis, an international Celtic Rock band, when they came to Rochester. ​​​​​​