BPAC Patron

 

Kelley Abbey

Since the inception of the Brisbane Performing Arts Challenge, Kelley Abbey has been its patron. Known for her support

of young talent in Australia, Kelley Abbey's presence at BPAC each year inspires, excites and challenges our participants

to be the best they can be and remember the joy in performing. We are very proud that she is our patron! 

Kelley's message to all BPAC participants:

Welcome to the Brisbane Performing Arts Challenge 2025!

I’m sure you are keen to gather with the rest of the dance community and celebrate all

things DANCE! BPAC is here to inspire, educate and lift the spirits of our dancers in their

expressive and artistic development. We would like to thank Aaron Cash, Sue-Ellen Shook,

Kate Evans and Claudia Hastings for their artistic prowess in guiding the students in

‘Steptitude’. This was an invaluable opportunity for the students to learn what it is like to be

in a professional working experience. These workshops and the competition wouldn’t be

possible without the help of our wonderful sponsors. We are 

extremely grateful for their ongoing support.

A big thank you to all of the great dance leaders that adjudicate and take workshops and

impart their professional expertise. BPAC continues to flourish! May you turn up this year

with newfound confidence, leading with your heart and feeling the beat!

Warmest

Kelley XXX

 

Kelley Abbey

Director, Choreographer and Performer

 

Kelley Abbey is known as Australia’s most inspirational doyenne of dance. She is an accomplished and respected creative director, choreographer and performer in Film, TV and Theatre. She is widely acknowledged for her exceptional ability to see the uniqueness in every artist and is renowned for constantly seeking to encourage and inspire others.

She is a Helpmann, Mo, Variety Heart and Green Room award winning performer in Musical Theatre. She has also won multiple Helpmann awards for her Choreography in Musicals. Kelley also holds a Hollywood Choreography Media Honours for her choreographic work in the Oscar, Golden Globe & BAFTA winning feature film Happy Feet.

Kelley is a true triple threat in musical theatre, performing in countless stage shows and musicals including the multi award winning Sweet Charity, Dancin’ Man, Dynamite and West Side Story. Kelley also impressively choreographed and performed a lead role in Grease the Arena Spectacular. She also directed, choreographed and played the lead in Fame the Musical - that earned her a Helpmann award for her choreography and a nomination for best director.

Kelley’s other choreographic theatre credits include Opera Australia’s Helpmann award winning production of Salome and Carmen on the harbour and the main stage of the Sydney Opera House. Musical productions of Jesus Christ Superstar, Footloose, Follies, Funny Girl, Hedwig and The Angry Inch, Xanadu, Miracle City, Cabaret (winning a Broadway World award), Fame the Musical in Australia, Asia & South Africa, Bell Shakespeare’s The Misanthrope, and Hugh Jackman’s The Boy from Oz in the arena (winning a Helpmann Award for Best Choreography along with Kenny Ortega). She was also the artistic director on Two Strong Hearts and The Main Event which were stadium concerts starring John Farnham, Olivia Newton-John and Anthony Warlow and the Associate Director to Baz Luhrmann on the world premiere stage adaptation of Strictly Ballroom the musical.

On Australian television, Kelley became a household name as Jojo in the popular soap E Street. Kelley went on to choreograph and appear in a multitude of TV series, specials and awards. She sang at the opening of Sydney’s Olympic Stadium and to a packed stadium at the AFL Grand Final. She was seen as the on-camera choreographer on ‘I Will Survive’ for Network Ten, and played an acting role on the ABC series Dance Academy.Kelley’s choreography on So You Think You Can Dance was highly acclaimed and led to her being invited to choreograph on the American SYTYCD series. She was the Australian judge on NBC’s Superstars of Dance. Kelley is also the Creative Director on multiple seasons of the Australian TV series Dancing with The Stars.

Kelley is also one of Australia’s leading music video choreographers working with many pop artists and award-winning international acts. Her directorial debut in music video was nominated for Best Video at the Australian Music Awards. Kelley staged and choreographed Human Nature performances on their international tours with Michael Jackson, Janet Jackson and Celine Dion. She has choreographed many performances for Australian Pop Idol’s on TV week Logie Awards, Aria Awards, MTV Awards, X Factor and The Voice as well as staging Ricky Martin’s Logies performance.

In film, Kelley was the choreographer, principal motion-capture consultant and lead performer on the multi award winning film Happy Feet directed by George Miller. Kelley’s choreography has also been featured in the Australian films Goddess starring Magda Szubanski, Laura Michelle Kelly and Ronan Keating, and In Her Skin starring Miranda Otto, Guy Pearce and Sam Neil.

Kelley continues to choreograph, direct and mentor all around the country. Her masterclasses and one-on-one sessions provide young Australian performers with both an insight into their own artistry and access to Kelley’s expertise and guidance.

Most recently, Kelley has been choreographer on the Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour production of “Guys & Dolls” in Sydney.

www.kelleyabbey.com