Meet Trailblazer Kaitlyn Conley

Today we’d like to introduce you to Kaitlyn Conley.

Thanks for sharing your story with us Kaitlyn. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
My story started when I was two years old. My mom put me in a dance class and I was hooked. From a young age, I knew it was my passion and I was pretty serious about It. As I got older and began competing, I won numerous local and national titles. At 16 years old, I toured the country as the main demonstrator of JUMP dance competition/convention, traveling 35 weekends a year for a little over two years. I graduated high school online and continued my education online at ASU while I lived in LA pursuing my dance and choreography career. I also began my own business as a dance teacher and choreographer for dance studios around the country, Canada and Costa Rica. I decided to move back to Scottsdale, and physically attend ASU my junior and senior year, where I was choreography captain of the nationally ranked ASU dance team. At ASU, my team and I won a Gold Medal at the 2017 ICU World Championships and performed at pregame at the SuperBowl. I now teach and choreograph for dance teams around the valley and travel the country. Most recently, I just finished my first season as the NBA Phoenix Suns Dancers Coach, go suns!!

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It definitely has not been a smooth road haha. I’ve learned so much along the way and have realized that everyone has their own journey. There is no right or wrong way as long as you’re trying your best wherever you’re at and staying true to who you are. My advice would be to stay humble, maintain a good work ethic, and always keep your integrity no matter what! My faith has been a huge factor in my journey as well.

Please tell us more about your work, what you are currently focused on and most proud of.
Currently I’m very focused on being the coach of the Phoenix Suns Dancers, but I’ve been a dance teacher/choreographer for the past 11 years. I’ve choreographed for dance studios, high school and college dance teams locally and around the country. I first began as a dancer though, that’s what I was first known for and when people began to know of me and my name. I grew up in the dance industry and quickly began to excel at it, working with the industry’s top choreographers. What really got me known was a solo of mine “I’m ready now” on YouTube in 2008. I remember I’d go to restaurants, malls or my gym at the time, people would come up to me asking if I was the dancer Kaitlyn Conley… kinda crazy, lol. But I worked so hard and trained my whole life in various styles of dance. I think one thing that sets me apart was going to college. I wanted to be a well-rounded person and took a different route for my life. I kinda left the LA scene at the height of my “fame” or whatever you want to call it, to go home, be with family, get an education and live a normal life. People thought I was crazy to go to school and leave everything but, for me, I know it’s what I needed to do.

Which women have inspired you in your life?
My mom. Hands down. She taught me so much that I apply in my career. The biggest thing she taught me was to be fearless, I was never allowed to have fear, haha. During my career whenever I’ve felt nervous or intimidated by a new job, a person or an audition, what she instilled in me at a young age helped me overcome so many obstacles. I’ve done things I never thought I’d ever accomplished because she taught me to just go for it and that I have nothing to be fearful of.

Contact Info:

• Email: keconley11@aol.com
• Instagram: _kaitlynconley

Image Credit:
Regan Norton

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