Staff

Melanie
Melanie Hodges' extensive ballet teaching syllabus encompasses elements of the Russian, European, and American schools, along with her own dance education from her years at the Joffrey Ballet School, North Carolina School of the Arts, Texas Christian University (BFA in Ballet and Modern), Southern Methodist University Our Staff (MFA, Full Graduate Scholarship in Ballet, Choreography, and Performance), STEPS and Broadway Dance Center in New York City.

A former professional dancer with the Milwaukee Ballet and Fort Worth/Dallas Ballet, Ms. Hodges also has Broadway performance credits that include Cats (Victoria), Chicago, 42nd Street, and Hello, Dolly! to name a few. Since then, she has kept a level of excellence in her teaching that she feels is crucial for her students. Not only is she a renowned ballet and modern teacher in her own right, but a highly sought after choreographer. Her reputation as one of the most knowledgeable and progressive teachers in the industry precedes her.

In addition to her repertoire of full-length ballets, she is considered to be a mentor to her students, many of whom are in or have successfully graduated from college dance departments. Melanie gives her students a loving and positive environment in which to learn, while teaching them to respect and appreciate the arts.

Allison – Hip Hop and Tap
Allison is a talented performer, choreographer, and teacher in addition to being an exceptional tap dancer. Highlights in her tap training include The Tradition in Tap/ Four Step Brothers Workshop (Jazz Tap Center, New York) and the Manhattan Tap Rhythm Tap Intensive (New York). Besides teaching her own series of Tap classes , her choreographed tap works have been showcased in fFIDA (Urban Matinee Series), "Twelfth Night: the Coming of a New Don" (Equity Showcase),"Heart Sapphire" (River Run Centre, Guelph) and the Maud Whitmore Benefit Concert (Confederation Centre for the Arts, Charlottetown). Allison is on the faculty of both Randolph Academy and Sheridan College.

Performance highlights include Aladdin (Elgin Theatre), West Side Story (Stage West), Anne of Green Gables and Fire (Charlottetown Festival). A few choreography credits include: Downtown (Summerworks Festival), Godspell (Mainstreet Theatre), The Boys (Theatre Sheridan), "Street Re-Stamped" for Something Wonderful at the Charlottetown Festival, and most recently, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (Isabel Bader).

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