Experiencing Interruptions?

That's My Phenotype!

[Full Length Feature]

Launching her filmmaking Debut, Choreographer CiCi Kelley Explores The Dynamic Personalities Of Black Womanhood From Past To Present, in Relation To Social Politics, Commercialism, and Reclamation.

ATLANTA, GA- Hailing from the intersection of Boulevard Lorraine and Venetian Dr., between two of Southwest ATL’s, aka “the S.W.A.T.S.,” most notable thoroughfares of Cascade and Campbellton Rd., Choreographer CiCi Kelley utilizes her deeply rooted vernacular of Afrocentric Jazz Dance movement, in synergy with Atlanta Influences Everything (Bem Joiner, aie.life) social dance styled choreography and gestural devices, to further explore who she is as a black woman through black performance theory and the concept of Diasporic Spidering (Black Performance Theory, Thomas DeFrantz, Anita Gonzalez).

Warning! Adult language used & brief nudity.

  • CiCi Kelley
    Director
    Choreography: BOLDEN, MTV Made, MTV VMA's, Last Vegas
  • CiCi Kelley
    Writer
  • CiCi Kelley
    Producer
  • Thomas DeFrantz
    Key Cast
    Dance Historian & Scholar, Duke University, NorthWestern University, The University Of The Arts
  • Dr. Brenda Dixon Gottschild
    Key Cast
    Dance Historian & Scholar, Professor Emeritus, Temple University
  • Kaela Lawrence
    Key Cast
    Spelman College
  • Chloe Donald
    Key Cast
    My Daughter
  • Rhonda Kelley
    Key Cast
    Spelman College
  • Spelman Dance Theatre
    Key Cast
  • Zack Lee
    Director Of Photography Team #1
    Exackleeright Ent.
  • AJ Paug
    Director Of Photography Team #2
    Panda Co. Media
  • Zack Lee
    Editors
    Exackleeright Ent.
  • AJ Paug
    Editors
    Panda Co Media
  • AJ Paug
    Line Producer
    Panda Co. Media
  • Project Type:
    Documentary, Feature, Student
  • Genres:
    Documentary, Dance, Dance histories, Black performance theory, scholarship, hip hop, jazz dance, social dance
  • Runtime:
    59 minutes 54 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    April 16, 2022
  • Production Budget:
    10,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    35 mm
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Digital Cinema Package:
    Unavailable
  • Capstone Premire Spelman College
    Atlanta
    United States
    April 29, 2022
  • Spelman College Research Day
    Atlanta
    United States
    April 22, 2022
  • Bronze Lens Film Festival
    Atlanta
    United States
    August 25, 2023
    Atlanta, GA
Director Biography - CiCi Kelley


About Me
Educator. Choreographer. Creative.
Regardless of the location of the stage, theater, studio, concert venue or even a football field, Kelley has left her mark. After being trained by some of the greatest names in dance at Philadelphia’s University of the Arts, the Atlanta native has forged a career that spans all genres of dance and crosses multiple industries - from sports to advertising to entertainment and beyond.
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Kelley’s list of accomplishments is extensive and audiences around the world have been entertained by her dance moves. Her choreography and mesmerizing performances have been featured by the Atlanta Falcons both in national commercials and during halftime entertainment. Other choreography credits include the Fugees European tour, Musiq Soulchild Stir the Senses tour, and Toni Braxtons 2010 tour and television performances. Kelley danced with Beyonce Knowles in her video for Get Me Bodied and during her performance of the hugely popular Single Ladies during the 2009 MTV VMAs.

CiCi's work has also been performed on theatrical stages across the United States in a variety of shows including The Wilson Pickett Project and The Satin Dolls: A Duke Ellington Review, & Je’Caryaous Johnsons BAPS Live: The Musical. She was selected by film director Jon Turtletaub to provide dance directions to award-winning actor Morgan Freeman during the filming of the blockbuster hit, Last Vegas as well as the film BOLDEN with Director Dan Pritzker.


CiCi has additional performance credits on stage and in music videos, including the video for hip hop pioneer, LL Cool J Control Myself featuring Jennifer Lopez, and Outkast music video for Ghetto Music. Her choreography skills were also featured on MTV’s Emmy Award winning series, MTV MADE, as well as MTV MADE Head-to-Head Hip Hop Challenge.
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Kelley has also stepped into her philanthropic shoes by helping up- and-coming young dancers start their careers off on the right foot with "The DARE DREAM DANCE Project," a C4 Atlanta fiscally sponsored initiative. Inclusive of the projects programming, Kelley provides unique commercial dance education training with a classical foundation, to develop world class artists who want to achieve success in the field of dance. Students have received numerous SAG- AFTRA credits, & over 20K in dance scholarships and professional work opportunities. She offers the Trifecta scholarship within the DARE DREAM DANCE framework to provide talented and highly ambitious young dancers the means with which to hone their craft and pursue their dreams in the three major dance centers: Atlanta, New York and Los Angeles.
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Ms. Kelley holds a BA in Dance Performance & Choreography from Spelman College, and a Masters In Fine Arts From The University Of The Arts. In addition to placing choreography on numerous artist, stages, film productions, as well as educating eager dance students around the world, Kelley also serves as a Senior Lecturer & First Year Advisor at her alma mater and the #1 HBCU in the country, Spelman College in the department of Dance Performance & Choreography.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

As a creator, my passion is to create art that has all of the elements of my upbringing yet will be used as a vehicle to tell the stories of the black women, mothers, aunties, etc. for generations to come. I desire to make art that matters and inspires spectators to their core as well as make them challenge their own perspectives and biases. Work to make you think, fuel your soul, and/or frustrate you to induce change in whichever ecosystem you reside.