As a dance major with an art therapy minor, junior Kelly Clymer has a special interest in the power of art to heal.

Hailing from Cleveland, Clymer has been dancing from a young age, and she hopes to dance professionally in the future.

Since coming to college, though, she has discovered an interest in movement’s uses in therapy. After her professional dance career ends, she intends to transition into the dance movement therapy field and work with disabled children.

Dance and movement also serve in a remedial capacity for Clymer herself.

“Dance is an escape from everyday life for me,” she said.
Tyler Stauffer photo: Junior Kelly Clymer is a dance major with an art therapy minor, which she will put to use after dancing professionally.

Clymer was one of the students who assisted with the creation of Yoga Club, a new RSCO advised by Betty Amatangelo. Having discovered how much she enjoyed the yoga classes offered on campus, Clymer was excited to help with the formation of the organization. She now serves as the secretary for the club.
“It’s a very close-knit group, and it’s a lot of fun,” Clymer said. “I really like yoga a lot. It’s nice to have some introspective time.”

In addition to her talent as a dancer, Clymer is also a choreographer and a gifted visual artist. She studied art in high school, and now she likes to integrate her art background with her dancing. She is currently choreographing a piece for the dance department’s winter concert, “Raw Edges,” which explores the idea of colors on the color wheel coming alive.

Clymer describes her choreography as generally light and often humorous, and she says that she likes to have fun in the studio while she works.

Combining academic pursuits with her dance studies is important to Clymer as well. “I feel like it’s important to also have an academic side in college while dancing,” she said.

She is an active member of the Honors Program and secretary for the Honors Council. Clymer also serves as the vice president for Mercyhurst’s chapter of Nu Delta Alpha, a national dance honor society.

With her natural cheer and energy, Clymer is sure to be a success in whatever arts genre she is pursuing.