Melonie A. Buchanan
Melonie
holds a BFA degree in Ballet from Friends University (Wichita,
KS) and an MFA degree in Dance from the University of California,
Irvine (UCI). She attended UCI on a full fellowship and
was also the recipient of an Arts Bridge scholarship. During
her time at UCI, Melonie studied with the legendary Donald
McKayle, had her choreography chosen to be performed in
graduate concerts, was selected to teach many dance technique
classes at the university, and received a grant to travel
to New York for her thesis research.
Her performance experience includes dancing as a Radio City
Rockette, as a principle dancer with Wichita Ballet Theatre,
and as a featured dancer with Musical Theatre of Wichita.
In addition, Melonie sailed the seas with Norwegian Cruise
Lines as a dance captain for Broadway-style productions,
and has performed with several musical theatre companies
in Southern California. Most recently, Melonie performed
as a featured dancer with Francisco Martinez Dance Theatre,
a Los Angeles based award-winning modern dance company.
Melonie has experience teaching
all levels of ballet and modern dance at institutions such
as Friends University (Wichita, KS), Santa Ana College (Santa
Ana, CA), Irvine Valley College (Irvine, CA), and South
County Classical Ballet (Orange County, CA). In addition,
she continues to guest teach and choreograph for regional
ballet companies and summer intensives.
Melonie is a member of the
Society of Dance History Scholars, the Congress on Research
in Dance, the Texas Association of Teachers of Dancing,
and the Florida Dance Association.
