Introducing Kelsey Billiot
Kelsey Billiot has been teaching in classrooms around Lafayette Parish with the PACE program since 2015. As a teaching artist, she crafts creative movement lessons that include arts integration, social emotional learning skills, and curriculum connections. Her art is expressed through Space Lafayette, an artisan dance company that creates original works involving site specific choreography.
She created Breathe & Move in the Fall of 2019, as a response to the growing ask for movement and wellness in classrooms. Breathe & Move is the collection of these ideas over her movement and teaching career that gives movement outlets to express emotion, increase fine and gross motor skills, and expand creative problem solving. In 2022, her work evolved to speaking to educators, counselors, and administrators on these topics. With Grant and school funding there is now a pilot program at Woodvale and Burke Elementary.
Who makes up your art circle?
My art circle exists within Space Lafayette. We are a team of five. Sabrina Benazzouz, Amanda Stelly, Naughty Lola, Montel Lewis, and myself. I’m also on a team of teaching artists at ACA.
How do you expand your art circle?
I’m always down for coffee dates to brainstorm. For connections, support, and creative direction, I’m open to Lafayette’s artists and art scene always.
What value do you see in having a creative community?
In my lowest and slowest times, it helps to have a community to remind you why you do it and how you can keep going. They charge me up and make me feel like I can take on all of biggest goals.
How does your artistic approach contribute to your community?
My artistic approach comes from a place of healing and expression. If I can live what I teach and continue to create art and live creatively, others will be inspired to do the same.
Our weekly Art Circle series profiles artists throughout the community and is sponsored in part by Lafayette Visitor Enterprise Fund managed by Lafayette Travel
