Dance Makers 2024 Program
Immerse yourself in the exhilarating fusion of dance styles at SCD's "Dance Makers 2024!" Experience the rhythmic beats of Frances Bradley-Vilier's Tap, the captivating Jazz moves by Courtney Jones, and the thought-provoking interdisciplinary work by Andrea Ward. The grand finale, 'JUSTICE' by Vincent Hardy, promises a powerful close. Join us for an unforgettable night of diverse contemporary artistry that will leave you inspired.
Immerse yourself in the exhilarating fusion of dance styles at SCD's "Dance Makers 2024!" Experience the rhythmic beats of Frances Bradley-Vilier's Tap, the captivating Jazz moves by Courtney Jones, and the thought-provoking interdisciplinary work by Andrea Ward. The grand finale, 'JUSTICE' by Vincent Hardy, promises a powerful close. Join us for an unforgettable night of diverse contemporary artistry that will leave you inspired.
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teaches Pilates and Yoga and is a certified Simonson <strong>Dance</strong> Technique instructor. She<br />
has taught Yoga and Simonson technique classes in Florida at SCD and New College<br />
of Florida. In her spare time, she likes to spend time with her dog, play musical<br />
instruments, and spend time in bodies of water. Her choreographic inspiration<br />
comes from patterns in nature and the ways the body copes with life’s unexpected<br />
tides. Jessica loves wellness practices and is currently exploring the topic of mental<br />
health and the roles that trauma plays in our physical bodies—taking time to listen<br />
internally through journaling, watercolor painting, and, of course, dance-making.<br />
Melissa Rummel (<strong>Dance</strong>r & Studio Coordinator) was<br />
raised in Dryden, Michigan, where she started dancing at<br />
seven. She graduated from Belhaven University with a BFA<br />
in dance, emphasizing modern dance and choreography.<br />
She has trained with companies such as Eisenhower<br />
<strong>Dance</strong> Ensemble, RiverNorth Chicago, Ad Deum <strong>Dance</strong><br />
Company, and Sarasota Contemporary <strong>Dance</strong>. This is<br />
Melissa’s Eighth season with Sarasota Contemporary<br />
<strong>Dance</strong> and fourth as Studio Coordinator. Melissa is the<br />
Associate Director for SCD Ensemble(Student Training program) and the SCD Summer<br />
Intensive Director. She is passionate about teaching and teaches with SCD and<br />
Woodland Fine Arts Academy. She also enjoys fitness and its positive effect on others<br />
and strives to find new ways to combine her love of dance and fitness. She strives<br />
never to stop stretching herself as a performer, choreographer, and teacher.<br />
Monessa Salley (<strong>Dance</strong>r & Production Lead), South<br />
Carolina native, has been with SCD for five consecutive<br />
seasons, dancing, performing, choreographing, and<br />
teaching professionally with Sarasota Contemporary<br />
<strong>Dance</strong> Company, serving as Production Lead for the past<br />
two seasons. After attending an SCD summer intensive in<br />
2015, she knew this was a special organization, but it was<br />
not until 2019 that she seized an opportunity to join this<br />
unique company. Her desire to build community relations aligns with the company’s<br />
mission, in addition to it being a safe and nurturing space that fosters artistic growth<br />
in performance, teaching, and choreography. In addition to her work at SCD, she is a<br />
Teaching Artist for New College of Florida an adjunct <strong>Dance</strong> Educator for the Booker<br />
High School VPA <strong>Dance</strong> Department. She serves as an Arts Integration Teaching Artist<br />
for several organizations, including The Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, Wholehearted<br />
Education, and Suncoast Black Arts Collaborative. Salley enjoys choreographing for<br />
musical theater and recently served as Assistant Choreographer for West Coast Black<br />
Theater Troupe. She began training in dance at a young age and is well-versed in<br />
various genres. She holds a B.A. in <strong>Dance</strong> Performance from Winthrop University and<br />
a Masters of Education in Divergent Learning from Columbia College. After continued<br />
education and serving as a certified <strong>Dance</strong> Educator and Theater Production Manager<br />
for 12 years in SC public school, she went on to pursue her MFA in <strong>Dance</strong> Performance<br />
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