Fred Norbert Kelly (June 29, 1916â€"March 15, 2000) was an American
choreographer, dancer, actor and director.Born in Pittsburgh,
Pennsylvania, in 1916, Kelly was the youngest of five children of
James Patrick Kelly and his wife, Harriet. His father was a sales
executive with Thomas Edison's phonograph company, and his mother
worked with stock theater as a hobby. She ensured that all of the
children took lessons in music and dancing.Kelly began his dance
career at the age of four performing with his older siblings known as
The Five Dancing Kellys, including famed American actor and dancer
Gene Kelly. He began to teach dance at thirteen years old at the
family owned Gene Kelly Studio after learning to tap dance from legend
Bill "Bojangles" Robinson.As a teenager, Kelly traveled around Ohio,
Pennsylvania, and West Virginia as a magician with two assistants. He
also worked on a showboat each summer of his eighth-12th grade years.
He attended the University of Pittsburgh and graduated in 1939.
choreographer, dancer, actor and director.Born in Pittsburgh,
Pennsylvania, in 1916, Kelly was the youngest of five children of
James Patrick Kelly and his wife, Harriet. His father was a sales
executive with Thomas Edison's phonograph company, and his mother
worked with stock theater as a hobby. She ensured that all of the
children took lessons in music and dancing.Kelly began his dance
career at the age of four performing with his older siblings known as
The Five Dancing Kellys, including famed American actor and dancer
Gene Kelly. He began to teach dance at thirteen years old at the
family owned Gene Kelly Studio after learning to tap dance from legend
Bill "Bojangles" Robinson.As a teenager, Kelly traveled around Ohio,
Pennsylvania, and West Virginia as a magician with two assistants. He
also worked on a showboat each summer of his eighth-12th grade years.
He attended the University of Pittsburgh and graduated in 1939.
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