Kelly A Johnson

Kelly A Johnson is an Associate Professor of Dance and Movement Studies and serves as Chair of the Dance and Movement Studies Department at Hobart and William Smith Colleges (HWS), where she has been a faculty member since 2010. She is based in the Gearan Center for the Performing Arts and is a key figure in advancing dance education with a focus on African Diasporic traditions and social justice.

Scholarly Interests: Her research and teaching emphasize choreography, African Diasporic dance education, social justice in pedagogy, improvisation, Caribbean dance and culture, and traditional Guinean dance forms. Her work centers on decolonizing dance education and empowering students through embodied learning and cultural reclamation.

Research and Conference Contributions: Johnson has presented at national and regional conferences including the National Dance Education Organization and the Somatics Dance Conference. Her presentations explore how African Diasporic dance education fosters empathy, community, and human transformation. Her performances, such as 'Communion' and 'Just Another RANT,' reflect deep cultural and personal narratives.

• Scientific Awards: No awards listed in the provided text.

Advising and Grants: She has advised numerous student projects and honors theses, including works on dance as resistance in South Africa, empowerment through African Diasporic dance, and interdisciplinary explorations linking dance and biochemistry. She is actively involved in mentoring and curriculum development.

Labs, Teams, and Service: Johnson is a company member of the Atebayilla Dance Company and co-director of the Eastwest Institute for Yoga, Dance and Movement Studies. She is a founding member of Community Education for Transformation (CET) at HWS and serves as Faculty Advisor for the Caribbean Student Association. She also contributes to the SANKOFA Legacy Project and the Geneva Concerts board.