Kelley Abbey

Kelley Abbey
Born (1966-07-28) 28 July 1966
Inala, Queensland, Australia
Nationality Australian
Alma mater Corinda State High School
Occupation Dancer, choreographer, actress, theatre director
Known for Penguin choreography on Happy Feet
Television E Street
So You Think You Can Dance
Parent(s) Eric and Jill Abbey
Awards Green Room Award (twice)
Mo Award (twice)
Choreography Media Honours
Website www.kelleyabbey.com

Kelley Abbey (born 28 July 1966) is an Australian actress, choreographer, singer and dancer. She has been a leading performer and choreographer in TV, film and musical theatre for more than 20 years. She remains best known for her role on soap opera E Street as Jo-Jo Adams.

Awards

Abbey won the Green Room Award, Mo Award[1] and Variety Heart awards for her performance as the lead in Sweet Charity.[2] She also won a Mo Award for playing the lead in Fame the Musical which she also choreographed.[3] She won the Green Room Award for her choreography in Fame and later restaged this show in Asia and South Africa.[4]

Abbey played Sheila in the 2003 Australian cast of Hair[5] and Rizzo in an arena production of Grease, and later choreographed an arena stadium tour of Grease – the Arena Spectacular.[6] Other musicals Abbey has choreographed include Follies at the Sydney Opera House, Footloose and most recently Hugh Jackman's The Boy from Oz in the Arena[7] for which she won a Helpmann Award along with Kenny Ortega.[8]

Choreography

Abbey was honoured at the Choreography Media Honours in Los Angeles for her choreography in the Oscar-winning feature Happy Feet.[9] She was also head motion capture consultant on the film, ran "penguin school" and was the principal motion capture performer.[10]

Abbey has also choreographed many music videos, pop concert tours, television commercials and awards specials. She appeared in the film In Her Skin starring Guy Pearce and Sam Neill which she choreographed and also plays a small role.[11]

Abbey appears as a special guest judge and choreographer on the hit TV show So You Think You Can Dance[12] and choreographs for the So You Think You Can Dance franchise internationally. She also was chosen to represent Australia on the reality television show Superstars of Dance on the NBC Network.[13]

Patronage

Abbey is the Patron of the Brisbane Performing Arts Challenge.[14]

References

  1. "Winners – 23rd Mo Awards 1998". moawards.com. 1998. Retrieved 7 August 2010.
  2. Pinne, Peter (2010). "Fame – Remember My Name". stagewhispers.com.au. Retrieved 7 August 2010.
  3. "Winners – 25th Mo Awards 2000". moawards.com. 2000. Retrieved 7 August 2010.
  4. "Kelley Abbey – Director and Choreographer". famethemusical.com.au. 2010. Retrieved 7 August 2010.
  5. Low, Lenny Ann (4 April 2003). "Hippie replacement". smh.com.au. Retrieved 7 August 2010.
  6. "Abbey's Road to Fame". famenetwork.com. 10 October 1999. Retrieved 7 August 2010.
  7. "Search on for Boy from Oz". theage.com.au. 13 May 2006. Retrieved 7 August 2010.
  8. Gill, Raymond (7 August 2007). "Echo stars at Helpmanns". theage.com.au. Retrieved 7 August 2010.
  9. Hasty, Lynn (2 May 2007). "Choreography Media Honors" (PDF). dancecamerawest.org. Retrieved 7 August 2010.
  10. "The Effects Story Behind Happy Feet". close-upfilm.com. Retrieved 7 August 2010.
  11. "In Her Skin". imdb.com. 2009. Retrieved 7 August 2010.
  12. "Kelly Abbey – Choreographer". dance.ten.com.au. Retrieved 7 August 2010.
  13. "Superstars of Dance". nbc.com. Retrieved 7 August 2010.
  14. "Patron – Kelley Abbey". bpacdance.org.au. 2010. Retrieved 7 August 2010.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Kelley Abbey.
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