We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Kelsey Kroll a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Kelsey, appreciate you sitting with us today to share your wisdom with our readers. So, let’s start with resilience – where do you get your resilience from?
My resilience is fueled by my passion and drive. My art isn’t just something I do—it’s who I am, and without it, I don’t feel complete. Giving up has never been an option; when I set my mind to something, I pursue it with everything I’ve got. There’s nothing more rewarding than seeing an idea come to life.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
My name is Kelsey Kroll, and I’m a professional dancer, choreographer, and small business owner. I started my journey as a competitive gymnast and found my passion for dance in high school, leading me to pursue it professionally. At 19, I joined my first company, Center Dance Ensemble in Phoenix, AZ, where I danced for five years. Inspired to deepen my training, I went on to earn a Bachelor’s in Dance Performance and Choreography from Chapman University, with a minor in Kinesiology and Dance Injury Prevention.
After graduating, I returned to Arizona, performing with Center Dance Ensemble and CaZo Dance Company, while teaching at studios across the Phoenix area, including Scottsdale School of Ballet and Arizona Dance District. For six years, I was the Resident Choreographer for the International Baccalaureate Dance program at Barry Goldwater High School. In 2019, I founded Emergence Dance Company, which is currently on hiatus as I explore new projects and secure funding to revive it.
Currently, I tour as a professional backup dancer for various artists, embracing every moment on stage and the thrill of traveling across the U.S. and overseas. Teaching remains a part of my life, though I’ve scaled back to make more time for touring.
Most recently, I launched Happy Sol Body Sculpting. This new venture allows me to support others in achieving their body goals while also giving me the flexibility to continue my performing arts career. Helping people and having the freedom to pursue my art is incredibly rewarding. I am also in the process of starting a podcast with my best friend that I am very excited about. We will be launching it at the beginning of 2025… so stay tuned! 🙂
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
One of the most impactful lessons I’ve learned on my journey is to stay confident in myself and my art, no matter what others may think. Everyone is going to have an opinion, but yours is the only one that truly matters. Hearing a ‘no’ or experiencing failure is always a chance for growth, never a reason to quit. And trusting my heart and intuition has consistently guided me further, faster, than when I’ve tried to ignore it.
For anyone with a passion or idea, my advice is to trust that calling and go after it. I truly believe that no dream is placed in your heart without purpose. With hard work and perseverance, anything is possible—so go after what you want and make it happen. I’m rooting for you!
How can folks who want to work with you connect?
Absolutely!
In terms of dance, I’m always open to new opportunities for performing or choreographing. I work in a variety of styles and love taking on fresh projects. For dance inquiries, feel free to reach out at kelseykroll44@gmail.com, or connect with me on Instagram at @kgk_allday and send a DM.
For my body sculpting business, Happy Sol Body Sculpting, I’m currently accepting new clients and look forward to helping more people reach their body goals. For inquiries, just send a DM to @happysol_bodysculpting.
As for our podcast, we’ll soon be looking for sponsors and investors to help us grow and expand our brand! We’re building our website and social media now, so stay tuned. Follow my Instagram @kgk_allday for updates—I’ll be announcing when all the podcast info goes live.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: Kgk_allday, happysol_bodysculpting
Image Credits
Micala Austin
Howard Paley
Micaela Martin
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
