About me
Originally from Chicago, IL, KELLY TONINA (K.T.) COOPER studied dance under the leadership of Ric Rose at the University of Florida. After graduating with a BA in Advertising and a Business minor, she continued her dance education at the Dance Theater of Santa Fe at Santa Fe College in Gainesville, Fl. She had the honor of studying with Alora Haynes, Mark Broomfield, and choreographer-in-residence, Alberto Alonso.
After relocating to South Florida, she continued to choreograph for a number of special events, including pageants, fashion shows, and festivals, before starting her own ensemble dance group, On The Verge. She joined Atlanta Ballet in 2011 and is currently the Centre Administrative Director for the Centre for Dance Education. From 2019 to 2023, she served as Co-chair of the Diversity, Equity & Inclusion task force. Her role facilitated the ballet’s DEI initiatives alongside fellow staff members, trustees, and community members to create a more equitable future for the ballet, especially future artists.
Kelly Tonina was an executive board member for four years with the Out Front Theatre Company and is currently the National DEI Director for Stonewall Sports, Inc. supporting 27 chapters across the United States. Kelly Tonina graduated with her MS in Nonprofit Administration from Louisiana State University Shreveport. She is currently in her third year of doctoral studies in Arts Administration with the University of Kentucky.
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