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riginally from Ardmore, OK, Melissa started dancing at age 3 and went on to earn her BFA in Dance Performance from UCO in 2012 where she toured with Kaleidoscope Dance Company earning the “Excellence in Dance” award her senior year. Post graduation, she danced professionally for R.A.C.E. Dance (OKC) then Ashleyliane Dance Company (STL) where she performed pieces set by acclaimed choreographers such as Malaya, Jeremy Duvall, Will Johnston, Allison Buczkowski, Darrion Gallegos, and Anthony “Redd” Williams, among others. Some of her performance credits include: Hip Hop Nutcracker, World of Dance Chicago, Choreographers Carnival, Harlem Globetrotters, and KJ103’s Jingle Jam. She has also assisted top names in the industry such as Gregg Russell and Will Thomas while working dance conventions. Melissa has spent the last 10 years directing and choreographing award-winning routines for her former studio in Illinois —most recently earning a Choreography of the Year nomination for her hip hop production in 2024! She has lead her dancers to multiple national titles and is thrilled to be back in Oklahoma teaching in her home state!!