Shaun James Kelly is a Soloist and Resident Choreographer with the Royal New Zealand Ballet. After winning the Harry Haythorne Choreographic Award hosted by the RNZB with his work Blanć in 2016, he went on to create Aura, which was featured in the RNZB’s 2017 ‘Tutus on Tour’ programme, which toured through out New Zealand. Shaun brought his work to the runway as part of New Zealand Fashion Week 2017, choreographing a work for eight RNZB dancers that featured in New Zealand designer Andrea Moore’s catwalk show modelling her ‘I AM Fit’ collection. In 2018 Shaun brought the famous red cape to life in his telling of the classic story Little Red Riding Hood. ‘Little Red’ was performed in Wellington and Auckland reaching over 5,000 people. In 2019 Shaun was commissioned to make a main stage work titled ‘The Ground Beneath Our Feet’ which was performed as part of the RNZB ‘Choreographic Series’.

Shaun’s most recent project, in collaboration with the RNZB and New Zealand Symphony Orchestra is Stravinsky’s well-loved pocket-sized theatre piece, The Soldier’s Tale, written “to be read, played and danced”. Shaun created the choreography for this production working alongside Director Sara Brodie. As part of NZSO’s 2021 season ‘Setting Up Camp’,  The Soldier’s Tale was performed all over Aotearoa.