Melissa holds a B.A. in Dance Performance from Western Michigan University. As a scholarship student, Melissa danced soloist roles in Giselle and in George Balanchine’s, Who Cares? Melissa also attended, on scholarship, the University of Michigan where she studied modern dance with Peter Sparling and Sandra DeYoung.
She performed in the ballet, Carmen, and Raymonda with the Ballet Concerto of Fort Worth, Texas. Melissa has also performed contemporary works at the La Femme Dance Concert in Louisville, Kentucky. She began her early training from Gail Choate-Pettit in Monroe with additional studies at the Kirov Ballet Academy, Cleveland Ballet School, the Milwaukee Ballet as well as studies in England and Denmark. As a member of the Monroe Ballet Company, she performed soloist roles inNutcracker, Cinderella, Le Sylphide, CoppeliaandGraduation Ball. As a part of the River Raisin MusicTheater Company, she has danced in “42nd Street,” “Jesus Christ Superstar,” and “Chicago.”
Melissa holds the Advanced Professional Certificate from the Cecchetti Council of America and is currently a member teacher of the CCA.