dancer & choreographer
Melanie Aceto is a modern dancer and choreographer who earned her Master of Fine Arts degree in dance from New York University's Tisch School of the Arts. Melanie’s work has been performed internationally in Guatemala, Toronto, and Germany and nationally in Las Vegas, Virginia, Kentucky, Florida, Ohio, venues in Upstate NY and numerous festivals in New York City. Melanie’s work was showcased in this summer’s Inside/Out series at the internationally renowned Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival in Becket, MA. She has worked with contemporary composers Marc Mellits, Ping Jin, Evan Johnson, Tom Stoll and extensively with contemporary composer Mark Olivieri on projects including the ImageMovementSound festival, the Heidelberg New Music Festival and co-directing the Vision of Sound Concert of Live Music and Dance; a series of collaborative concerts featuring original contemporary music and choreography, now in its fifth season performing throughout upstate NY. Melanie has worked with New York based contemporary choreographers including Monica Bill Barnes, Barry Blumenfeld, Ellis Wood, Hilary Easton and Guta Hedewig and currently performs with Jim Hansen’s Assemblage Dance based in Rochester, NY. She has studied modern dance with Jonette Lancos, Gwen Welliver, Doug Varone, Gus Solomons and Sean Curran among others.
Melanie’s research interests include investigating models for teaching dance composition and modern technique. She was a 2007 Research Fellow at Jacob’s Pillow International Dance Festival investigating choreographic components of master works and is currently writing a four level modern technique curriculum for Dance Masters of America. Melanie is a certified Pliates Mat instructor and is currently an Assistant Professor at the University at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York teaching modern technique, composition, contemporary partnering and improvisation.
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CD is $15.00 |
Joseph Thomas has been playing the drums in bands, school ensembles, church groups, and musicals for over 16 years. He has studied with James Torrey, Donald Lyle, and Aaron Reinard among others. Joe began playing for Melanie in 2008 and has enjoyed accompanying dance ever since. In addition to dance classes, his jazz trio, and some freelance playing, he has also worked as a drum set teacher and assistant marching percussion instructor. He will graduate from the University at Buffalo with a degree in Biomedical Sciences and go on to UB Medical School.
