The
Dancer
Early on, Melissa got bitten by the performing bug as an actress in school. She starred in plays and musicals ranging from Shakespeare to Gilbert & Sullivan. In addition to performing on stage, Melissa spent time apprenticing behind the scenes doing lighting, set construction and costume design.
In high school she started taking modern dance, jazz, and tap classes. Later she added contra (New England partnered folk dance), ballroom dance, and hip-hop to her repertoire. On a whim, Melissa took a belly dance class in Washington D.C., where she originally hails from. She quickly discovered the beauty and grace that Middle Eastern dance can impart. She continues her studies with such noted teachers as Artemis Mourat, Anahid Sofian, Eva Cernik, Dalia Carella, Tayyar Akdeniz, and Morocco. She also designs and makes all her costumes herself.
Melissa’s passionate, Turkish-influenced style of dancing can be seen at Café Figaro, Lafayette Bar & Grill, and Kush as well as drum, dance and studio parties in the New York area.
The Drummer
Not content to focus only on belly dancing, Melissa discovered the intoxicating power of playing the dumbek and how learning to play the Arabic and Turkish rhythms she was dancing to enhanced her interpretation of the music—and her skill on the finger cymbals.
She studies dumbek and riq with acclaimed percussionists Raquy Danziger and Amir Naoum Chehade. She is part of Raquy’s first-ever dumbek orchestra, which performs regularly around the city.
The Teacher
Melissa has been teaching since the age of 14. She is a certified personal trainer with the National Academy of Sports Medicine, an AFAA-certified Group Fitness Instructor, and is a trained Integrated Flexibility Specialist (guess what her day job is!). In class, Melissa focuses on teaching expression and fluidity as well as technique, with a special emphasis on strength and flexibility to enhance a dancer's performance. She is available for private and group lessons.
