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Melissa’s passion for dance began shortly after she took her first steps at 13 months. To date, she is skilled in Ballet, Jazz, Lyrical, Modern, Latin and her favorite, Hip Hop dance. She continues to explore the world of dance.
Melissa has performed and choreographed for the CFL Hamilton Tigercats and the Ontario Raiders Lacrosse Dance Teams. She has worked with Toronto based R and B group “Heat”, choreographing and performing in their music video “Brown Eyes”. Melissa also choreographed their 2003 show for Canadian Music week at The Docks. Melissa is a performer and Associate Director of Thrive! Entertainment. She has performed in several shows with the company in and around the city and has had the privilege to choreograph in both the 2002, 2003 and 2006 Thrive! Showcases at the Betty Oliphant Theatre. Melissa has also performed and choreographed for City Dance Corps Talent Divined at the Al Green Theatre. Melissa participated in the 2008 Mille Femmes photo shoot. Her picture can be found amongst 1000 influential women in the arts, from all over the world. Recently she can be seen in the latest “Mc Fly” music video. With 14 years of teaching experience, Melissa continues to work at several dance studios, high schools and elementary schools such as, Cawthra Park School of the Arts, Rosedale Heights School of the Arts, Pegasus Studios, City Dance Corps, and Pine Ridge Secondary only to name a few. Her choreography has won awards at several dance competitions in Ontario. She continues her training with the hope that she can give back what has been given to her in twenty-two years of dance. When asked why, her response is “FOR THE LOVE OF IT”
Sharing her love of dance as a performer, choreographer, instructor and stage manager has given her the opportunity to meet and work with some of the most influential artists in Toronto.
Melissa is a strong believer that dance and the arts is the key to keeping today’s youth of the streets. She has and continues to coordinate and assist in various charitable events for, Sick Kids Hospital, Red Door Family Shelter, Heart and Stroke Foundation, Rethink Breast Cancer, Youth Rally’s, Summer Camps for Children in Need, and Arts for Kids of Toronto.
Summer of 2007 Melissa was personally invited by the Azorean government in Portugal to perform and choreograph at their annual dance festival “Dances of the Senses, Memories in Movement.” You can find her on OMNI television sharing her love of dance on a program called “Canada Contacto”
She is the Director and creator of Total Motion Dance with Mel and the Co-Founder/Director of Women in Dance, a creative showcase celebrating the female dancer.
Her warm smiles and personality are definitely contagious! She is never out of ENERGY and always ready to HIT THE FLOOR!
As Co-Director/Founder of Women in Dance, Melissa is excited for this new partnership and the opportunity to share her love and passion of dance with our community and fellow industry professionals. “Together let’s celebrate the female dancer”
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