Melissa Satyavelu: Switch Dance Studio Prescott AZ

Melissa Satyavelu is a native of the Midwest and trained traditionally in Tap, Jazz and Ballet since age four. At age twelve she began training with the Kansas City Ballet School where she trained under the direction of Karen Brown, Andrew Carr, and Sean Duus. She remained at the school until age seventeen when she became an Apprentice with Kansas City Ballet's professional company under the direction of the late Artistic Director Emeritus Todd Bolender and Artistic Director William Whitener. Melissa began furthering her Contemporary and Modern training at age fourteen with the late Paul Chambers and members of Paul Taylor's company. At twenty-one Melissa moved to Pittsburgh, PA to pursue her Bachelor's Degree in Dance. While studying at Point Park she received training from Dana Arey (former Ballet Mistress of Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre) Kiesha Lalama-White (choreographer for Houston Metropolitan Dance Theater, Gus Giordano Jazz Dance Company, and River North Jazz Dance Chicago) Ron Tassone (former Julliard graduate and choreographer on Broadway) and Pearlann Porter (Artistic Director of The Pillow Project). In three years she completed the program, graduating Summa Cum Laude with her BA in Dance with a Jazz Concentration. Melissa has been teaching for eight years in all styles of dance with an emphasis on Ballet. Melissa is very excited to be a member of the Switch Faculty and hopes to provide exceptional training to all individuals interested in dance.