Southwest Dance

Move.Show.MP4

"Move" choreographed by guest Karen Yang and performed by the 2022-2023 Dance Company 3 class on May 25th in the Southwest auditorium

Laker.Girl.Step.Up.MP4

"Laker Girl, Step Up" choreographed by guest Julian Hines and performed by 2022-2023 Dance Company 1 & 2 class in the Southwest auditorium on May 24th, 2023. 

Dance Electives SW Southwest High School.mp4

Are you a new in-coming 9th grader to Southwest? Video auditions for Dance Co. 1, 2 & 3 will be accepted until the first day of school on Sept. 5th. Please email Erin.Kelley@mpls.k12.mn.us for instructions on how and what to submit for a video audition.  

*Watch the one minute video to the left for a quick look at the Southwest Dance Department's electives for the 2023-2024 School Year!  For a more in-depth look scroll down to the "Creations" video posted below.  We have a NEW course that has been added for next year called "Hip-Hop & Dances of the African Diaspora"-this course will practice and explore dances that have African roots such as hip-hop, West African, Afro-Modern, swing dance, jazz, step and more! 

Erin Kelley, Director of Dance, Erin.Kelley@mpls.k12.mn.us   Classroom/Office:  W218 (dance studio)

Welcome to the 2023-2024 School Year!   

Whether you have danced all your life or are new to the art of dance, Southwest has a class that will meet your needs and interests as a dance student.  The SW Dance Department is committed to the physical, intellectual, emotional and creative development of students as they journey through dance as an art form.  The curriculum and programming is designed to nurture individuality while also building a strong sense of community and relationships in each ensemble and class.  

For specific information about the curriculum, including syllabi, click on each of the classes in the menu tabs above.   In the 2023-2024 school I will be teaching Hip-Hop & Dances of the African Diaspora w/guests Julian Hines & Khadijah Siferllah-Griffin (semester-long in fall/winter), Intro to Dance (semester-long in spring semester), Dance Company 1 & Dance Company 2 (year-long/combined class-audition required), IB/SL/HL/Dance Company 3 (year-long with SL & HL options available-audition required).  Please do not hesitate to reach out with questions at the email above! Video auditions are accepted!

Fine Arts-Performing Arts Dance Brown Promo Vid.mov

Erin Kelley (Director of Dance) is thrilled to be teaching at Southwest High School.  This will be Ms. Brown’s 24th  year of teaching and her 8th year at Southwest.  She graduated from St. Olaf College with a BA in dance and earned a Master’s of Fine Arts degree in choreography from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. She later completed a graduate teacher license program from Mankato State University in 2015. 

Before teaching in the Minneapolis schools Erin co-founded a modern dance company in Oklahoma where she worked as artistic director for four seasons before moving to Minneapolis in 2012.  After receiving her MFA, she taught dance in Kentucky, North Carolina, and Oklahoma.  Her life as a professional dancer has included working as a choreographer and performer in Arizona, North Carolina, and Oklahoma. In addition to modern dance choreography Ms. Brown has also choreographed over 12 musicals including West Side Story, Sweet Charity, Hairspray, The Wiz, Grease, RENT, and A Chorus Line. 

Please contact Ms. Kelley at Erin.Kelley@mpls.k12.mn.us  to learn more about the dance program.   Do not hesitate to reach out with your questions! 


My husband Steve and I enjoy going to arts events, traveling, boating, watching movies or TV shows, and cooking together.   This was taken at an outdoor music festival. 

My son Jackson is an 12th grade student in Hopkins this year.   He and I go camping and hiking at National Parks every summer.  This photo was taken at Zion National Park in Utah.

I am a part of a blended family with my husband Steve's kids, Isaac and Margaret.  Isaac graduated from the U of M in 2023 & Margaret is a junior in college at George Washington University.

This is our dog Sam.   He is an important member of our family and is a source of comfort and love.   He likes going for walks, licking plates, and barking uncontrollably at the slightest noise.