Melissa Caterina Chisena, originally from Pine Bush, NY, started her dance career at The New Paltz Ballet Theatre founded by Peter and Lisa Naumann, former dancers of New York City Ballet. She had the privilege of dancing and touring nationally with NORTH CAROLINA DANCE THEATRE under the direction of Jean-Pierre Bonnefoux and THE RICHMOND BALLET directed by Stoner Winslett . Currently residing in Philadelphia, PA, she now dances with JEANNE RUDDY DANCE and TANIA ISAAC DANCE, performing nationally at venues such as Bates Dance Festival, Jacob's Pillow, Aaron Davis Hall-Harlem Stage, Dance Place in DC, The Annenberg Center and The Wilma in Philadelphia and numerous colleges throughout the US. She has danced with MEGHAN DURHAM/ MERGE DANCE, PIMA GROUP, TARA MASDEN DANCE, independent choreographer Madeline Cantor and has been a guest performer at Virgina Commonwealth University.
Melissa is the founder and artistic director of CHISENA DANZA and the producer of the NORRISTOWN DANCEFEST.
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Melissa's award winning choreography has been featured at North Carolina Dance Theatre, Richmond Ballet, American Dance Festival, Regional Dance America, Ursinus College Dance Company, Philadelphia Dance Theatre, Philly Dance Fest, Community Education Center New Edge Mix in Philadelphia, Norristown DanceFest, Philly's Dance Collective, Youth American Grand Prix and various dance competitions across the US. She is currently a member of NADINE, a collaborative choreographic company in the North East.
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Melissa teaches ballet, pointe, modern, jazz and choreography to all levels and ages. Her classes focus on creating an intelligent, versatile and strong background for technique, artistry and inspiration. She provides a very supportive and positive environment for students to work towards achieving their fullest potential.
Melissa has been a guest teacher for various schools and venues and is available for master classes and choreographic residencies.
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| Photo By Bill Hebert |
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Current Teaching Positions-
Ursinus College- Collegeville, PA Adjunct Faculty Spring Semester 2011 Philadelphia Dance Theatre - Philadelphia, PA Janice's Danceworks - Folsom, PA Dance Elite- Horsham, PA
Her previous teaching credentials include The New Paltz School of Ballet in New Paltz, NY, The Dance Emporium in Bloomingburg, NY, Pilates Dance and More in Richmond, VA, and Bon Air Dance in Richmond, VA, Meridee Winters School of Music and Dance in Ardmore, PA and School of Dance Arts in Philadelphia, PA.
She has been a guest teacher for Tania Isaac Dance and New Paltz Ballet Theatre.
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Janurary 7th, 5pm Performing the work of Lior Sneior
92nd Street Y, 1395 Lexington Ave NYC
Part of Out Of Israel Weekend-free performance from 3pm-8pm (we go on at 5pm!)
March 16, 2012 Jeanne Ruddy Dance Open Studio Event 6:15pm @ Performance Garage
April 17 & 18, 2012 Philadelphia's Presenters Showcase Performance Garage
May 10-13, 2012 Jeanne Ruddy Dance 12th Anniversary Season Suzanne Roberts Theatre
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| Photo By Bill Hebert |
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| Photo By Bill Hebert |
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Past Shows-
March 13, 2009 Inhale Performance Series- "Vento" CHI Movement Arts Center 1316 South Ninth Street Philadelphia, PA 19147
April 4-6, 2009 Tania Isaac Dance "Stuporwoman" DancePlace 3225 8th Street NE Washington, DC 20017
April 18, 2009 Tara Madsen Dance Koresh Studios 2020 Chestnut Street Philadelphia, PA 19103
May 15, 2009 Philly Dance Collective- "Vento" Painted Bride Arts Center 2030 Vine Street Philadelphia, PA 19106 Contact melcat29@yahoo.com for tickets
July 20-26, 2009 Tania Isaac Dance-"Stuporwoman" Bates Dance Festival Bates College
July 31- August 2 Choreographers on the Edge Woodstock, NY
August 14 & 15, 2009
Norristown DanceFest Montgomery County Cultural Center 208 Dekalb Street Norristown, PA 19401
November 21, 2009 at 7:30pm Philly's Dance Collective Chisena Danza -Premier "La Notte" & Tara Madsen Dance- Premier "Sequence" Painted Bride Arts Center 230 Vine Street Philadelphia, PA
April 8-11, 2010 Jeanne Ruddy Dance 10th Anniversary Season The Wilma Theatre Philadelphia, PA February 6 & 7, 2010
Etc. Perfomance Series Community Education Center 3500 Lancaster Ave. Philadelphia, PA www.danceboxoffice.com
April 16, 2010 Evening of Duets Community Education Center 3500 Lancaster Ave. Philadelphia, PA contact: melcat29@yahoo.com
April 22-24, 2010 Ursinus College Dance Company Spring Show Ursinus College Collegeville, PA
May 2, 2010 Jeanne Ruddy Dance Queens Theatre in the Park Queens, NY Performing Significant Soil
May 19-21, 2010 Regional Dance America Point Park College Pittsburg, PA "La Notte" set on Philadelphia Dance Theatre
August 27 & 28, 2010 Norristown DanceFest 2010 Montgomery County Cultural Center 208 Dekalb Street Norristown, PA For tickets visit www.danceboxoffice.com 215-498-6264
Sept. 19, 2010 Jeanne Ruddy Dance Bloomsburg University www.ruddydance.org Performing Significant Soil
Nov. 4 & 5 2010 Jeanne Ruddy Dance Performance Garage www.ruddydance.org
Feb. 26 & 27, 2011 Jeanne Ruddy Dance University of Nevada Las Vegas, NV
March 6, 2011 Philadelphia Dance Theatre L.E.D Choreographed By Melissa Chisena Music Performed Live by Jonathan Cannon Wayne Ballet's Black Box Theatre
March 11, 2011 Jeanne Ruddy Dance Open Showing " Wet Paint" 6-8pm Performance Garage 1515 Brandywine Ave. Philadelphia, PA
April 14-17, 2011 Jeanne Ruddy Dance Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts www.ruddydance.org for tickets
April 17-19, 2011 Ursinus College Dance Company Choreography by Melissa Chisena Ursinus College Collegeville, PA
May 19-21, 2011 Regional Dance America Philadelphia Dance Theatre Pittsburg, PA
August 20 & 21 2011 Norristown DanceFest Montgomery County Cultural Center Centre Theatre Norristown, PA
November 10, 2011 "PARADE: Costumes, Fashion Merge" Jeanne Ruddy Dance Fundraiser 6-8:30pm @ Performance Garage www.ruddydance.org
November 18, 2011 Inhale Performance Series- " Falling Still" Chi Movement Arts Studio
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| Photo By Bill Hebert |
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| Photo By Bill Hebert |
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Dance Elite- www.danceelitestudio.net
Jeanne Ruddy Dance- http://www.ruddydance.org/
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Please feel free to contact Melissa Chisena/ Chisena Danza at melcat29@yahoo.com for more information on classes, choreographic residencies and performances.
Thank you for visiting!
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