Studio Owner: Kelly Gilmore
Kelly Gilmore
During his thirty years as a dance instructor, studio manager and Fred Astaire Dance Studio owner at four locations, Kelly has been sharing the magic of ball room dance with thousands of New Yorkers, including internationally known celebrities such as Dustin Hoffman, Marlo Thomas, Vanessa Williams, Wayne Newton and Jennifer Grey; whom he coached for her performance in the film “Dirty Dancing.” He owned and managed the FAD Downtown Studio in Manhattan for six years and managed the East Side And West Studios for five years.
For the past 18 years Kelly has been the studio manager of the Staten Island Fred Astaire Dance Studio, actively engaged in the borough’s art and social scene, while promoting ball room dance to a wider audience. His dancing skills and ability to creatively teach dance has been showcased on many local and national television programs, including morning talk shows with both Joan Rivers and Joan Lunden, Good Morning America with Diane Sawyer, N.Y. News One, and “A Wedding Story” for TLC, He performed along side cast members of ABC’ “Dancing with the Stars” for the “Disney’ Holiday Special” filmed at Disney World in 2010.
Mr. Gilmore was presented a Fred Astaire Dance Studio manager of the year award in 1994. His received the same award again in 2009. In addition to dance, Mr Gilmore has in recent years renewed his lifelong interest in acting and musical theater .He is on the board of directors of the Out of the Box Theatre Company in Manhattan and has acted in and helped to produce their equity showcases.
Locally he has performed with the Habor Lights Theater company and most recently performed as a vocal soloist with the Staten Island Philharmonic Orchestra.