Rachel Kennelly, an Ellicott City native, began her dance training at the age of six at the Ballet Royale Academy under the direction of Donna Pidel. She received extensive training from world-class instructors in Classical Ballet, Jazz, Modern, and Tap. Mrs. Kennelly also studied Voice for six years. She has attended several prestigious summer intensives as both a student and a teacher. Mrs. Kennelly furthered her education at Oklahoma City University, where she performed frequently as a soloist and featured dancer with the American Spirit Dance Company under the direction of Jo Rowan. In addition to a large Classical and Contemporary Repertoire, she has also been featured in numerous musical productions such as Oklahoma!, Pippin, Crazy for You, and The King and I, with the Centennial Players and OCU’s Wanda Bass School of Music. Mrs. Kennelly has performed throughout the United States, and in Mexico as a part of the 2001 Jazz Dance World Congress. Upon earning her Bachelor’s Degree in Dance Performance, she joined the faculty of the Ballet Royale Institute of Maryland in 2004. As a Ballet Royale Faculty member, Mrs. Kennelly teaches Classical Ballet, Pointe, Jazz, and Lyrical in the Advanced Dancers Program and the Pre Professional Program. Mrs. Kennelly choreographs for Ballet Royale Performances, and also for local, national and international competitions such as YAGP and others. Over the years, Mrs. Kennelly has won numerous awards for both her performance and choreography. Mrs. Kennelly serves as the Assistant Director of the Ballet Royale Institute of Maryland, and lives in Columbia with her husband.