Today we’d like to introduce you to Kelsey Betancourt
Hi Kelsey, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
In college I studied painting and illustration. After graduating, I worked in branding and management for a performing arts company and because of my background in dance, was gently pushed into performing. I cut my teeth there and ended up performing in over 300 shows in my two year tenure. I formed long lasting friendships with many of the dancers I worked alongside and eventually left to found my own company, Nocturna Entertainment.
Over the years, I built a robust network of talented artists and performers. I take great pride in blending my artistic skills with dance and performing arts to craft unique and memorable events. The variety and creativity involved in each project make every venture exciting and fulfilling.
My background and experiences have been instrumental in shaping my approach to creating bespoke event experiences. I’m enthusiastic about continuing to merge my love for art with event production, ensuring that each event we create leaves a lasting impression in our audience’s minds.
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?
Building Nocturna from scratch hasn’t been without its challenges, but it has certainly been an adventure. As with any business, it took time to build our client base and reputation. But we truly hit our stride in January 2020 and were so excited for all our new opportunities.
Then, as we all know, the pandemic hit. As we navigated this challenge together, my business partner, Kayla, decided to step back to embrace a new chapter in her life and start a family. I was absolutely thrilled for her, but at that point, I knew I had to accept that I can’t manage everything on my own and brought on help!
Now, as we rebuild and expand, we are more committed than ever to delivering exceptional, bespoke event experiences and fostering lasting connections with our clients. The journey has been challenging, but it has also been incredibly rewarding.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
We specialize in delivering exceptional entertainment tailored to each event. We offer a diverse selection of performers, including ballerinas, belly dancers, 1920s jazz dancers, burlesque performers, and specialty acts like aerialists. Additionally, we provide ambiance performers such as greeters, bubble sphere performers, and gogo dancers.
One of our standout features is our extensive wardrobe of costumes and a large repertoire of choreographies and routines. This allows us to assemble a captivating show quickly and efficiently from our existing designs and concepts. We’re most known for our dance performances, particularly belly dance, ballet, and 1920s jazz shows.
However, we also take great pride in creating bespoke productions tailored to our clients’ specific needs and visions. Whether it’s a custom show for a wedding or a unique performance for a corporate event, we’re equipped to bring any creative concept to life.
I’m most proud of our commitment to putting people first. We strive to create memorable and magical experiences for our clients, while ensuring that our performers are treated and compensated fairly. Building a company that prioritizes the well-being of both our clients and our team is something I value deeply.
If we knew you growing up, how would we have described you?
I grew up surrounded by an incredibly creative family. Our home was always bustling with art projects, which nurtured my own artistic inclinations and allowed me to explore different creative avenues. I also spent hours tucked into my books, creating worlds, costumes, and characters in my head and on paper as I learned about the topics that interested me. I was fascinated by the circus, dancers, and renaissance fairs.
As an adult now I love to make headpieces, props, and costumes for our team and I firmly believe that came from my passion as a child to constantly be crafting and painting. I spent a lot of time drawing figures and costumes, often circus inspired. These interests fueled my passion for the arts and inspired me to explore different forms of creative expression.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://nocturnaentertainment.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nocturna_entertainment/
Image Credits
Dana Duncan – IG: @pink.owlet – (headshot)
Chrissie Good – IG: @chrissiegoodphoto – (cancan dancers)
Rayzeen Skiles – IG: @rayskilesphotography – (showgirls)
Lesya Abbakumova – IG: @abbakumova_l – (flapper with boa)
