Melissa Emrico
Choreographer and Educator

Originally from the Washington, D.C. area, Melissa began her exclusive training in classical ballet at the age of 12. Within just six months, she was accepted into the prestigious Dance Theatre of Harlem’s residency program. After several months of intensive study, she earned a full scholarship to The Washington Ballet, where she continued her training alongside Dance Theatre of Harlem for several years.

Her classical foundation eventually led her to explore the world of musical theatre. Melissa was selected to train under the legendary Ann Reinking at the Broadway Theatre Project, launching her into a dynamic professional career. Her national and international tour credits include CATS (Cassandra), Fame the Musical (U.S. and Korea, where she served as Dance Captain and portrayed Iris), and Chicago at the Hollywood Bowl, directed by Brooke Shields.

Melissa’s career spans across commercials, feature films, live stage shows, and global tours. She toured with Lady Gaga, appearing as a featured dancer in the Marry the Night music video, and also toured the world with Oscar- and Grammy-winning composer A.R. Rahman (Slumdog Millionaire). Her additional credits include performances with Taylor Swift, Robin Thicke, and appearances on So You Think You Can Dance, Dancing With the Stars, and in projects such as Selfie, Ted 2, Step Up, Gone with the Bullets, Gnomeo and Juliet, and campaigns for Nike, among many others.

Melissa’s wide-ranging experience in both classical and commercial dance gives her a unique and well-rounded perspective as an educator. She brings passion, precision, and inspiration to her teaching, with a deep commitment to empowering the next generation of dancers through the art of ballet.