Scholar
Investigating dance history that centers the Black perspective and provides essential context for the field.
The book covers of the three anthologies Melanie has contributed to are shown in this image. From R to L: Jazz Dance: A History of the Roots and Branches, Rooted Jazz Dance, and The Collaborative Turn.
Writer
During her 25+ years of experience as a Dance Educator, Melanie honed her voice as an accomplished writer. From book chapters and scholarly articles to short essays and program notes, Melanie regularly writes on behalf of artists and in support of progress within the dance field.
Order Rooted Jazz Dance: Africanist Aesthetics and Equity in the Twenty-First Century HERE.
Melanie moderates a discussion on contemporary dance in Israel. Individuals shown L to R: Paul Gordon Emerson (Company E), Israeli choreographer Rachel Erdos, and Melanie
Photo by Jeff Watts
Facilitator
Melanie’s multifaceted career encompasses hundreds of unique collaborations with artists, institutions, universities, and organizations. Her vast, varied experiences inform her work as a frequent facilitator of panels, roundtables, and informal discussions about a wide range of topics in the dance field. Recent engagements include: Jacob’s Pillow, International Association of Blacks in Dance, Dance/NYC, and Gibney Dance.
In August 2020, Melanie spoke with Jawole Willa Jo Zollar of Urban Bush Women as part of SummerStage Anywhere’s season. Watch the full discussion on SummerStage’s YouTube page:
Wearing a #NeoJazz shirt, Melanie is seated in an arm chair with a camera set up as if she is recording an interview.
Photo by Mathew Simpkins
Contributor
As a leading dance scholar, Melanie contributes to anthologies, articles, collections, documentaries, and more!
Check out the teaser for Uprooted - The Journey of Jazz Dance, a documentary that Melanie is featured in below:
With the Jacob’s Pillow logo in the top right corner, this image shows Melanie addressing a group of audience members prior to a performance by Urban Bush Women.
Photo by Lindsay Guarino
Speaker
As a public speaker and natural educator, Melanie frequently gives keynotes on her practice, jazz dance, and field-wide topics. Her dramaturgical work also prompts frequent speaking engagements such as pre/post performance presentations, panels, or artist interviews. Her intimate connection to the piece itself combined with her 25+ years of field knowledge allow her to serve as a conduit between artists and audiences.
Hear / watch an excerpt of her pre-show talk for Urban Bush Women at Jacob’s Pillow below:
Sitting on the left in a light blue button down shirt, Melanie in discussion with Okwui Okpokwasili at Jacob’s PIllow.
Photo by Jamie Kraus, provided by Jacob’s Pillow