Jada Bao ’28
Oct 16, 2026
Mercersburg’s Director of Dance, Kelsy Rupp, began her lifelong dance journey in a theater seat at just two and a half years old. Watching her older cousin perform in The Nutcracker, young Rupp leaned over the edge of her seat, pointed directly at the stage, and said, “I wanna do that.”
That spark ignited a passion that carried her from early childhood classes at age three into serious training by age ten. Throughout her youth, Rupp established herself as a remarkably athletic performer. Known in ballet for her powerful turns and jumps (often stepping into energetic roles like the Spanish Chocolate soloist or Marzipan in The Nutcracker) and later in modern dance companies recognized for their physical intensity, she built her early career around raw strength and dynamic movement.
Yet, as she launched her career, her understanding of dance evolved. While pursuing her undergraduate degree at Radford University and performing professionally, Rupp discovered that her true creative passion was moving from the center of the stage to work behind the scenes. Recently, her focus has shifted toward choreography, expression, and guiding young artists as an educator.
Rupp’s draws her teaching philosophy from what she wishes she had experienced as a young student. Her approach prioritizes compassion, meeting dancers wherever they are in their skill levels, and fostering an inclusive studio environment. “I pride myself on being able to teach a multi-level class,” Rupp said. “My ultimate goal is that they leave with a love for dance as an art experience rather than just trying to be great technicians.”
Moreover, Rupp introduced body consent early in her teaching career. Recognizing that dance instruction often involves physical adjustments, she understands that every person's body is their own, and they have the right to decline; therefore, she always asks permission before making corrections. Above all, her primary goal is to ensure students leave the studio with a sense of safety as well as a deep appreciation for dance.
Rupp’s perspective on the craft has also evolved since her high school days as an assistant. While her early career concentrated on strict technique, she now places greater value on creative voice and individual expression. Reflecting on her youth in rigorous settings, Rupp’s advice for her students and her younger self is "It's just not that serious." Recognizing that dance originated as a universal form of human communication and community celebration, she encourages dancers to stay true to themselves and give up perfectionism.
Even as a seasoned dancer, Rupp often tells her students about embarrassing moments throughout her dance journey. One such was surviving a stage fall, and another a high school Nutcracker incident in which a 30-second quick change left an earring inside her pointe shoe, piercing her arch mid-performance.
Rupp brings a rich trove of experience to the Mercersburg community. She reported having engaged in post-show traditions like hunting down local Chipotle spots with her former touring company and drawing artistic inspiration from groundbreaking choreographers like Kyle Abraham and German dance-theater legend Pina Bausch.
Today, Rupp balances her ongoing personal artistic explorations with leading the school’s dance program. For her, dance remains an ever-evolving language rooted in empathy and bringing people together through movement.