Krystle Dionne Jelks is a dancer (ballet, modern, lyrical, jazz, hip-hop and liturgical), choreographer, dance instructor and arts administrator. Beginning her dance training at age 5, Krystle started dancing with Ms. Rita Walton and Les Petite Dancers and Company. From there, she studied as a dance major at the prestigious Emerson School for the Visual and Performing Arts. She received her formal education at Ball State University earning a Bachelor’s in Public Relations in 2007 and a Master’s of Arts Management from Columbia College Chicago with a concentration in Arts in Youth and Community Development in 2011. Krystle has participated in dance training programs such as Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre and Deeply Rooted Dance Theatre.

Krystle has served as a solo dancer and teaching artist in the northwest Indiana and Chicagoland area for more than 12 years. She has taught/choreographed for the Gary YWCA, Boys and Girls Club of NWI, South Shore Dance Alliance, Little Black Pearl Workshop, Columbia College Chicago, Restoration Ministries, Wentworth Elementary School, Aspire Charter Academy New Hope MB Church and Emerson School for the Visual and Performing Arts. She possesses more than 10 years work experience in public relations, marketing, event coordination, communications, youth arts programming and arts curriculum development in the non-profit sector. She is passionate about dance and the ability the performing arts have to transform the lives of youth.