At just 19 years old, Laurel Springs School’s 2023 graduate Kelsey Reese Tangorra has already danced her way to the Super Bowl halftime show and a coveted spot at the Martha Graham School of Contemporary Dance in New York City. Living in West Village, Kelsey is fully immersed in her pre-professional dance training while pursuing her dreams of performing on some of the biggest stages in the world.

Her love for dance started early. “I began ballet classes at the age of three,” she shared. Growing up in Connecticut, she explored many styles, including modern, jazz, contemporary, ballroom, heels, and musical theater. By middle school, her passion for dance became a full-time commitment. “I was commuting to dance classes every day, rehearsing all the time as a competitive dancer. It was clear that I wanted dance to be my career.”

You can imagine how challenging it was for Kelsey to balance rigorous dance training and full-time academics. “My hometown high school was very demanding, and I realized it would be impossible to keep up with my performance schedule while attending traditional school,” she explained. Enter: Laurel Springs. There wasn’t a question about whether or not an alternative learning environment would make a difference for her dream chasing. Instead, making a switch felt crucial!

Finding Balance with Laurel Springs School

Starting at Laurel Springs as a freshman, Kelsey fully embraced the flexibility offered. “At first, it was a little stressful because I wasn’t used to managing my own time,” she admitted. “But I was pleasantly surprised by how accommodating the teachers were. They understood what we were going through as student-athletes and performers.”

Kelsey recalls how Laurel Springs’ flexible schedule allowed her to thrive: “During Nutcracker season, I’d tell my teachers that I needed to get all my work done early, and they’d say, ‘Okay, we got you.’” She spent weekends in the library completing her assignments and even worked on schoolwork backstage during rehearsals.

“Laurel Springs helped me pursue my pre-professional dance career while keeping up with my education. Without that flexibility, I wouldn’t have been able to do both,” Kelsey said.

Training at the Martha Graham School of Contemporary Dance

Today, Kelsey lives in New York City, training at the renowned Martha Graham School of Contemporary Dance, where she’s part of a two-year pre-professional program. “The Graham curriculum is very specific – it’s like learning ballet all over again. It’s challenging but rewarding, and I feel so at home here,” she said.

Her days at the Martha Graham School are packed with classes in Gyrokinesis, Pilates, Graham modern technique, and contemporary dance, followed by rehearsals for upcoming performances. One of her recent highlights was performing a historic piece called Night Chant, which hadn’t been staged since the 1980s.

In March, Kelsey will perform a contemporary piece titled Mapping as part of the Martha Graham Studio Series, an honor she describes as “the most imaginative thing I’ve ever been a part of.” Not all who auditioned for this performance were selected, so Kelsey is particularly enthusiastic about the opportunity. “It’s so exciting,” she said. “The first part of the piece is a contemporary dance, and then there’s a break in the music and a blackout on the stage. When the lights come back, the backdrop of the stage becomes a projection screen, and a camera on the ceiling projects an aerial view of what the dancers are doing, which is lying on the floor along a line of tape, pretending to walk and dance. But because of the projection, it looks like we’re floating or standing upright – so cool!”

Performing at Super Bowl LVIII with Usher, Ludacris and Alicia Keys

Kelsey’s first professional dance gig happened in February 2023, when she performed in the Super Bowl LVIII halftime show alongside Usher, Ludacris, and Alicia Keys. “It was such a high-profile production,” she said, recalling the audition process (which consisted of 5 interview rounds!) and two weeks of intense rehearsals in Las Vegas.

“We rehearsed for 8 hours a day, spacing out choreography on a football field and later in the stadium. Watching the whole production come together – with dancers, roller skaters, and Usher – was magical.”

The experience cemented Kelsey’s desire to work in the professional dance industry. “I loved the hustle and bustle of rehearsals, the energy, and the adrenaline. It was the biggest audience I’ve ever performed for, and it made me realize this is what I need. This is what I want to do every single day!”

Kelsey also shared that the people she met during the experience “were amazing.” She was alongside dancers who were on the World of Dance TV show, prominent teachers in Los Angeles, and performers at some of the most prestigious studios in LA. “The happiness and energy that it gave me to be a part of something like that was really something.”

The Stages Ahead

Kelsey’s future is as bright as her spirit. While she dreams of joining a professional modern dance company, she’s also exploring other opportunities. “I do wanna be on Broadway. I love, love, love theater, and I love performing on stage,” she shared.

She’s also considering other paths, like becoming a backup dancer or performing on movie sets. “I just watched Wicked, and the dancing on that set – I was sitting there the whole time thinking, ‘That’s what I wanna do right there!’”

In addition, Kelsey is currently training in NFL Pro Cheer style with Victoria Kalina, a former Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader. “It’s something new I’m considering, but it sounds like a dream,” she said. “All of it does! I just wanna dance every day all day for the rest of my life. And then when I stop dancing, I wanna teach dancing. So there you go!”

The Impact of Laurel Springs

Kelsey credits Laurel Springs School for helping her achieve her dreams. “Laurel Springs shaped me into a dedicated and independent person. It gave me the foundation to balance my education and my career, and for that, I’m so grateful,” she said.

“I’ve found my home,” she added. “I’m so happy to be doing what I love every day, and I wouldn’t be here without the support of LSS.”

While Laurel Springs may have provided the resource and flexibility Kalsey needed to thrive, it’s clear that Kelsey’s optimistic, passionate, and determined nature were also key to her success. Students like her demonstrate just how far a driven mindset, paired with the right learning environment, can take you – sometimes straight to the Super Bowl stage!

We’re incredibly proud to call Kelsey an alum and can’t wait to see what remarkable things she will accomplish next. If you are a fellow Alum, connect with Kelsey on LSS Alumni Connect! You can also find her active on Instagram and TikTok at @sassykelseyreese.

To explore how online private school can support your journey as a performing artist or athlete, join us for an upcoming Virtual Open House. It’s the best way to learn more about Laurel Springs School!

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