About Me
Melanie began dance classes at the age of 4 in Milwaukee, WI, studying the basics of ballet, tap, and jazz. She continued in modern jazz through her 'teens. From 1990-95, she attended the University Center for Performing Arts in Davie, FL, studying the Eric Morris Method of Acting for the Theater, and Modern Dance. In '95 Melanie moved to Gainesville, FL, where she began studying Alternative Healing and several different dance forms including African, Classical Chinese, and Indian Mudra. At the same time she began studying traditional Egyptian and Lebanese Raqs Sharqi with Karolinka of Sahnobar Dance Ensemble, a Bellydance Company that Melanie then began performing with in January 1997. She took workshops and private classes from many MidEastern dance artists, studying the Egyptian folk styles of Saiidi and Ghawazee, the Gulf Dance Khaleeji, and Turkish cabaret and "gypsy" dance. Melanie also took Isadora Duncan and Lester Horton Modern Dance classes, studying with a second generation Duncan-trained teacher. She fused these styles with Raqs Sharqi. In 2003 Melanie studied with Suhaila and Jamila Salimpour in Berkeley, CA. In 2004 she moved to LA, where she trained with Jillina(of the Bellydance Superstars), Tamra Henna, and other famed Bellydance Artists. She has performed with three International Dance Companies, including Jillina's Sahlala Dancers and the Bellytwins. In January-March of 2007, she appeared as one of Venus's minions in the LA Opera production of Tannhauser. Since living in LA, she has appeared as a featured Bellydancer in several music videos, stage productions, for the t.v. show Drive, and in the upcoming romantic comedy A Numbers Game, starring Steven Bauer.
