|
|
| 2008 Carnaval Queen Kellita | ||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||
|
Kellita descends
from a long line of sassydancers. Her Spanish grandmother routinely
danced flamenco on tabletops, while her Lebanese aunt entertained
vaudeville audiences as The Chocolate Princess with her signature
hula dance. Kellita's effervescent personality shines through
no matter how demanding the choreography she performs.
On the other hand her father was a
life long minister whose sense of caring for others made a big
impact on his daughter.
Not only a mover and shaker on the dance floor, Kellita
has traveled the world, building bridges, teaching English as a
Second Language in Hungary, Brazil and Russia.
Her commitment to embrace diverse cultures and expression landed her a BA in Romance languages & literature from UCSD. While classically trained, it was her introduction to samba, cabaret & burlesque that opened her floodgates of enthusiasm.
After locating in
the what might be fairly called the world capital of multi-cultural
dance, the San Francisco Bay Area, Kellita found inspiration in
combining samba with the showgirl moves that had rarely heretofore
been deemed worthy of being imparted as a skill to be taught.
Kellita's muse blossomed creating choreography which is both
innovative and crowd pleasing for her dance troupe, the award-winning
Hot Pink Feathers
world carnaval cabaret.
The chance to resurrect and advance
the aesthetic of beauty and love through the art of the female form
in motion has given Kellita's career in dance a special purpose that
she believes is a blessed calling.
Sharing dance as
celebration through performance and education is Kellita's primary
and official occupation. A long-time performer in Carnaval,
who, like many, sees the year divided into two parts, before
Carnaval and after Carnaval. Kellita's dance work is fueled by her
passion for expressing joy in the present although in spare moments,
Kellita moonlights as a psychometrist.
She has won a large following of fans
who sense something extra special in our 2008 Queen. Part of this
extra fan devotion is Kellita has a charisma which makes them feel
extra special too. Student Carleigh Rochon who still seems
awed by her first Carnaval parade experience in 2007 says. "You
can't help but have fun around her. She is 'on' all the time"
Mrs. Rochon was an eight year modern
and belly dance student when she expressed to our Queen having
always had an interest in samba but feeling intimidated by high
energy classes. Next thing she knew she was in the beginner class of
what Kellita calls "the Showgirl Academy." The classes brought out
innate talent in a way the was fun and approachable but the idea of
performing in a G-string before hundreds of thousands in the
Carnaval parade was initially out of the question. Kellita
eventually won her over;
"She is so passionate about the art
form. So proud of women and the female form. How to bring the best
out is her mission."
"It's not just technique and
movements it is the choreography, she is just so good at how to put
in all together." she said.
Hot Pink Feathers was one of the most
memorable contingents in the 2007 Carnaval parade and yet one of the
smallest without a sound truck or float. Most talked about was the
shimmy-shim move of twenty syncopated g-stringed rear ends moving
down Mission Street at the same time.
Queen Kellita says
her next world tour will be dedicated to
teaching Dance as a Second Language.
The San Francisco
Bay Area is very fortunate to be blessed with the special talents of
our Queen Kellita to serve
as ambassador of the notion of a community which honors the beauty
of the body in motion through the expression of public dance and music
until April 1st of next year.
 |
|
Return to Carnaval SF 2008 Home Page -
2008 Foto Guide Page or
Main SF Carnaval
Page
 |
