Kelly Kuder
Assistant Regional Manager—DEAEF YDP for IL, MD, MI, PA, VA, and DC
Kelly Kuder serves as Assistant Regional and Regional Manager for the Washington, DC metro area, Annapolis, MD, Chicago and West Chicago. Kelly has been with the Foundation since the start of the DEAEF Youth Dance Program in 2012.
Kelly has enjoyed her career as a classically trained ballerina, performer and dance instructor for over 30 years. It was her love for dance education and how it fed her soul to inspire and teach, that brought her to the Washington, D.C. area where she earned her Masters of Dance from American University. Prior to graduate school, she studied ballet extensively with American Ballet Theatre, The School of American Ballet, The Hartford Ballet, The Syracuse Ballet Theatre, Joe Tremain’s Dance Studio in Los Angeles, and The Academy of the Performing Arts in San Diego, CA.
“What an amazing decade of inspiring our nation's youth to be drug-free through dance, martial arts, soccer and beyond. This program brings hope to communities. It is such an honor to have the opportunity to work with the DEA Educational Foundation.”
Kelly had the pleasure of training with internationally known instructors at the New York City Ballet Summer Performing Arts Program and went on to perform with dance companies such as CityDance Ensemble, Tony Powell Music and Movement, Jazz Dance.dc, and in venues such as SPAC in Saratoga Springs with the New York City Ballet and at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. In addition to her performing and training, Kelly was the Director of Outreach for Joy of Motion Dance Center, Joy of Motion Youth Dance Company and Regional Manager for the D.A.R.E. America, D.A.R.E. Dance Program for nearly 9 years. She managed over 24 outreach dance programs in the Chicago and Washington, DC metro areas.
Kelly continues to live a life full of creativity, dance, and healthy habits such as yoga and eating nutritious food! She is a Certified Wellness Coach and founder of Healthy Now, A.C.E. certified, a 500 Hour Registered Yoga Teacher with Yoga Alliance, and co-founder of Transcend Wellness and Yoga in Chadds Ford, PA. When Kelly is not teaching dance, yoga and leading Yoga Retreats, or managing her DEAEF YDP region; you will find her enjoying life with her beautiful family and amazing friends!
