Meet Kelela Batinga of Kelela Rose Dance & Vivid Movement

Today we’d like to introduce you to Kelela Batinga.

Kelela, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
My parents put me in dance before I can remember and I have been passionate about it ever since. I was raised with the entrepreneurial mindset and ever since I was little I was starting businesses. When I was very little I had a tiny little sticker business, then in middle school I made rings and bracelets which eventually expanded into all types of accessories through high school. Throughout college I worked at many dance studios and as a high school dance team coach up until 2021. During the pandemic at one of the studios I worked at, I helped set up zoom classes for the owners. The owners struggled and were only offered deferment on the rent so they ended up not wanting to continue and they closed their doors. They gave me a few items and I went to every available location in Fountain Valley and finally found a new space. I was on an extremely tight budget especially because of how little I was able to work due to my type of job during the pandemic so I did a lot of the build out myself. With the help of a couple family members and friends we built two sprung dance floors. It took 12 hours a day for 3 weeks building that floor and it was my very first time doing something like that so we learned as we went. My mom and I even worked on Christmas Eve and day and New Years Eve and day that year to finish the floor. Many people told me this was a bad idea and that I didn’t know what I was doing but despite the odds I ended up opening Kelela Rose Dance in 2021. We had two rooms and we began small and then grew and needed to expand! One of the units close to my space opened up and we expanded into that room in 2024 and we now have three rooms running. We have everything from a competition program and recreational classes to a winter production and recital and other performance opportunities. My instructors and I have helped build a community and I am so grateful for all of the families we have at the studio and all of the future families we hope to meet soon!
In September of 2024 I opened an adult only studio called Vivid Movement in Costa Mesa. This was a rebranding and remodeling of an already existing studio which I discovered came with its own challenges. Through the sleepless nights and hard work I was able to get VM where I want it. I recently finished a full renovation where once again we did a lot of the buildout ourselves with a 7-day closure of the studio. I am excited to continue to grow a community in the adult space as well. I have an adult hip hop team that I direct and dance in as well out of this studio. We do community events, videos and competitions.
I am also a high school dance team advisor and head coach and this is my 15th year with the team! With the team I have brought home a couple Best Choreography awards in contemporary and hip hop and hold many national and state titles in hip hop in the high school competition circuit.
I am also so grateful to still be performing and working as a dancer and choreographer independently. Most recently, I choreographed and performed on the Queen Mary for an event, and have done so at multiple other parties and events. I also set choreography for other shows, schools and teams. I regularly produce my own concept style dance videos where I get to fully express myself as an artist.
I owe a lot of these accomplishments to the greatest family and friends who are so incredibly supportive and helpful in every venture and I am so lucky.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I can definitely say that being a dual business owner has had its struggles. Probably the biggest challenge that I have had to overcome is being a young female entrepreneur. I was not taken seriously at many points of the journey with the city, with contractors, when contacting companies to purchase from. I had companies try to take advantage of me with pricing–a colleague advised me that the increased prices were a “girl tax” charged because I am a woman in business. I used to overthink and go through the internal struggles of believing that all of these people are right and I shouldn’t be doing this, but I have learned to develop a thick skin and keep pushing and I am so glad that I never listened.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
At Kelela Rose Dance we are passionate about dance and what it does for the mind and body. It is important that growing minds have an expressive outlet and are involved in a fun physical activity to promote health and overall well-being. Dance also develops self esteem, confidence and discipline.
At KRD I hope to continue to instill in my students a belief that they can do anything they put their minds to. I hope to give them a space to feel safe to express themselves artistically as well as a home away from home.
At KRD we have an amazing group of skilled instructors in jazz, contemporary, lyrical, hip hop, ballet, pointe, acro, tap, conditioning, Kpop and tiny tot combo classes.
We are a studio for all ages. We have kid/teen classes that start at 3:30pm every weekday and our adult classes start around 7:30pm.

At Vivid Movement our mission is to cultivate an empowering, inclusive, and safe space where individuals of all backgrounds, identities, and abilities can explore the art of dance, aerial arts and pole fitness. We are committed to fostering confidence, self-expression, and strength—both physical and emotional—through movement. Our community thrives on mutual respect, support, and celebration of each person’s unique journey. Whether you’re here to train, heal, grow, or play, you are welcome, worthy, and unstoppable.
We have classes of all styles that run every day of the week with our incredible instructors. At VM we host socials and other events that bring the dance community together and we are so excited to continue growing.
Come and try a class at the most vivid, vibrant and versatile adult fitness space in Orange County!

As an independent dancer and choreographer I look forward to creating more and working with other artists. For events and parties, we provide entertainment in any style of dance. For choreography I am available for teams, projects, music videos, etc. that I create based on the needs of the project.

In terms of your work and the industry, what are some of the changes you are expecting to see over the next five to ten years?
In the next 5-10 years I hope to keep growing the two businesses and communities that I love so much. KRD is a very specific home studio but I did make Vivid Movement with the hope of expanding into new cities. Maybe VM San Diego is next? The options are endless but I am so looking forward to the journey!
As an artist I hope to continue to grow my craft and continue to choreograph for events and teams, and I hope to get more into the music video scene.

Pricing:

• KRD Tuition 1 class per week per month $70, 2 classes per week per month $125, 3 classes per week per month $160 etc. Please see our website!
• KRD Single Drop in $20, 5 for $90, 10 for $170
• VM All Access Membership $259, Unlimited Aerial $149, Unlimited Dance $129, Unlimited Pole $199
• VM Class Packs 5 for $99, 8 for $129, 10 for $159

Contact Info:

• Website: kelelarosedance.com vivid-movement.com
• Instagram: @krd_dancestudio @vivid.movement @kelelarose_choreo
• Facebook: Kelela Rose Dance
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@kelelarose
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/kelela-rose-dance-fountain-valley?osq=kelela+rose+dance https://www.yelp.com/biz/vivid-movement-costa-mesa?osq=Vivid+Movement