About Kelly

Bio

After 40 years of training and performance, during which time she has choreographed, and assisted many Australian and international choreographers, Kelly is delighted that the natural progression of her career is now giving her the opportunity to pass her knowledge on to others within the dance industry.


Her choreography credits include the Australian Component of the opening event for the ICC Cricket World Cup, The Dancing With The Stars Promo, the film version of The Divorce for the ABC and Opera Australia all of which featured students from Kelly Aykers Full Time Dance. More recently, she choreographed Barnum for Storeyboard entertainment along with choreography for the hit US series 'Preacher'. This followed on from a 'still secret' feature film and Follies in Concert for Storeyboard entertainment which featured the cream of Australia's Musical Theatre crop. She choreographed Young Talent Time for the Ten network, Annie the Musical for Gordon Frost, The Moonshadow workshop with Yusuf Islam, Fox 8 series Ultimate School Musical, numerous appearances on So You Think You Can Dance Australia, Sweeny Todd for the Australian Opera, The Wizard of Oz for GFO, Circacolumbia circus shows, P&O Cruises, I Should be so Lucky at the Melbourne Festival, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying for the Production company, Guys and Dolls for the Production company, Annie SEL & Macks, Star Struck Series 1&2, GTV 9, My Brother Jack Channel 10.


Her performance resume boasts credits in some of Australia's finest professional Musical events. The lead role of Stephanie in Saturday Night Fever, the role of June in Chicago the Musical, the lead role of Helene in Sweet Charity the Musical, the role of silly girl in Beauty and the Beast, the role of Christine in A Chorus Line, the role of Patty Simcox in Grease the Musical, Funny Girl, Alana Scanlans Pictures, David Atkins Dynamite, David Atkins Dancin Man, Seven Little Australians the Musical. Dein Perry's film Bootmen and the role of Lauren Gatley on Neighbours.

 

In 2016, as a devout disciple of Bob Fosse, Kelly took on the role of producer,  director and choreographer in bringing the full scale musical, Pippin to the stage. Featuring a live band on stage headed by Musical Theatre maestro Stephen Gray, Pippin saw Kelly take the natural next step in an already stellar career. in 2017, Kelly assumed the same role in bringing super musical, Chicago to the stage to rave reviews.


For almost thirty years Kelly has been one of the country's most sought after dance and Musical Theatre teachers, working in Melbourne and Australia's foremost universities and dance institutions. Kelly is qualified with a Diploma of Musical Theatre, Certificate IV in Dance Teaching and Management and Certificate IV in Training and Assessment. Kelly is also director and owner of her own junior school, Kelly Aykers Casual Dance as well as Director and Co-owner of Parklife Productions Pty Ltd. Over the years Kelly's passion and commitment to the finer points of dance has not waned and she is as dedicated to her craft now as she ever has been. It is to that end that she proudly launched her latest endeavour at Kelly Aykers Full Time Dance in Brunswick.

 


 

 


 

Statement of Experience

Choreography

  • 2023 MIDNIGHT THE MUSICAL (McLaren House / Joint Venture Australia)
  • 2023 NAVY BLUE CREW  (Carlton Football Club)
  • 2022 THE PYJAMA GAME (director and choreography) - (Parklife Productions)
  • 2021 LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS (director and choreography) - (Parklife Productions)
  • 2019 'THE PREACHER' (AMC Network)
  • 2019 BARNUM (Storeyboard Entertainment)
  • 2018 THE INCREDIBLE MR DUNDEE - feature film - ClockSounds Productions SPV P/L
  • 2017 CHICAGO (director and choreographer) - (Parklife Productions)
  • 2015 -17 MASTERS OF CHOREOGRAPHY - ONCE UPON A TIME, ZODIAC, RINGMASTER (Masters of Choreography)
  • 2016 PIPPIN (director and choreography) - (Parklife Productions)
  • 2016 MAINSTREAM AUSTRALIAN MUSICAL WORKSHOP (Joint Ventures Australia) Choreographer
  • 2016 FOLLIES IN CONCERT (Storeyboard Entertainment) Choreographer
  • 2015 YOUTUBE FANFEST Sydney (Youtube) Choreographer
  • 2015 THE DIVORCE (ABC / Opera Australia) Choreographer

  • 2015 ICC CRICKET WORLD CUP OPENING EVENT (ICC) Choreographer
  • 2015 DANCING WITH THE STARS PROMO (Channel 7) Choreographer
  • 2012 YOUNG TALENT TIME (Channel 10 Granada Productions) Choreographer
  • 2011 - 2012 ANNIE (Gordon Frost) Choreographer
  • 2012 MOONSHADOW WORKSHOP Melbourne Choreographer
  • 2011 WEST SIDE STORY (Victorian College of the Arts) Choreographer
  • 2009 - 2010 THE ULTIMATE SCHOOL MUSICAL - FAME (Fremantle Media / Foxtel) Choreographer
  • 2008 - 2009 SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE x 6 (Fremantle Media) Choreographer
  • 2006 - 2007 SWEENEY TODD (Opera Australia) Choreographer
  • 2001 - 2002 WIZARD OF OZ (GFO/SEL/MACKS) Choreographer
  • 2002 I SHOULD BE SO LUCKY (Melbourne Festival) Choreographer
  • 2001 - 2003 SWEENY TODD (Australian Opera) Choreographer
  • 2001 HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS WITHOUT REALLY TRYING (Production Company) Choreographer
  • 2000 - ANNIE 2001 (GFO / Macks) Resident Choreographer
  • 2000 MY BROTHER JACK (TEN Network) Choreographer - Choreography and authentication of historical dance hall scenes.
  • 2000 GUYS AND DOLLS (Production Company) Choreographer
  • 2001 STARSTRUCK (GTV9) Choreographer ? Two complete seasons working with a team of eight resident dancers.

 


 

Performance

  • 2004-05 SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER, Lead role of Stephanie, IMG / David Atkins, Perth, Western Australia
  • 2004-05 SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER, Ensemble / Dance Captain, IMG / David Atkins, Australasian Tour
  • 2001-99 CHICAGO, Ensemble / Dance Captain, IMG / David Atkins, Her Majesty?s Theatre, Melbourne, Capitol Theatre, Sydney
  • 1999 FUNNY GIRL, Ensemble, The Production Company, State Theatre, Melbourne
  • 1997-98 SWEET CHARITY, Principal role of Helene, Her Majesty?s Theatre, Melbourne, Capitol Theatre, Sydney
  • 1995-96 BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, Role of Silly Girl, Kevin Jacobsen / Disney, Princess Theatre, Melbourne
  • 1993-94 A CHORUS LINE, Role of Christine, Kevin Jacobsen, Australian Tour
  • 1991-92 GREASE: THE MUSICAL, Role of Patty Simcox / Dance Captain, David Atkins, Australian Tour
  • 1990 DYNAMITE!, Singer / Dancer, David Atkins Australian Tour,
  • 1989 DANCIN? MAN, Singer / Dancer, David Atkins, Australian Tour
  • 1988 SEVEN LITTLE AUSTRALIANS: THE MUSICAL, Ensemble, Australian Tour

 


 

Television

  • Neighbours - Actor - Role of Lauren Gately
  • Various Award nights, resident dancer and commercial work.

 


 

Film

  • 1999 BOOTMEN, Actor / Dancer, Dein Perry

 


 

Circus

  • 2014 CIRCA, Circacolumbia P&O Cruises, Choreographer / Director

 


 

Other

  • Helpmann award nominee 2012 - best choreography in a Musical
  • Green Room Awards Committee Member (2008 - 2011)
  • Member British Ballet Organisation
  • Member Australian Teachers of Dance
  • Director and Co-owner of Studio 1 Performing Arts
  • Director and Co-owner of Parklife Productions Pty Ltd

 


 

Qualification

  • CUA50211 - Diploma of Musical Theatre
  • CUA40211 - Certificate IV in Dance Teaching and Management
  • TAE40110 - Certificate IV in Training and Assessment

 

Certificates in:

  • HLTCPR211A - Perform CPR
  • HLTFA211A - Provide Basic Emergency Life Support
  • HLTFA311A - Apply First Aid