Melissa Young
Adjunct Instructor of Dance



MELISSA M. YOUNG is a native of Santa Ana , California . Ms. Young received her pre-professional dance training from Saint Joseph Ballet in Santa Ana , under the Artistic Direction of Beth Burns. From Saint Joseph Ballet she moved to New York to study at The Ailey School where she is a Certificate Program graduate and merit scholarship recipient. While training at The Ailey School, Ms. Young had the opportunity to work with noted choreographers such as Bill T. Jones, Kevin Iega Jeff, Francesca Harper and Kevin Wynn. She performed Memoria, choreographed by Alvin Ailey, with Alvin American Dance Theater at City Center and Church of Nation ,s choreographed by Kevin Iega Jeff, with Ailey at the Apollo. Ms. Young has also received training from the National Ballet School of Canada, in Toronto , and College for the Arts in Amsterdam , Holland . She received her Associate's Degree in Business Administration from Orange Coast College in California .

Ms. Young joined Dallas Black Dance Theatre in August 1994, and in June 2005 was promoted to Assistant Artistic Director and Rehearsal Director for DBDT. She has traveled across the United States , and from Austria to Zimbabwe . She has performed everywhere from Lincoln Center to The Kennedy Center, the list goes on and on. For eleven years, she was a company dancer with Dallas Black Dance Theatre, and became known as the premiere female soloist of the company. Her favorite works include: Angelitos Negros by Donald McKayle, Night Run by Christopher Huggins, Landforms by Alonzo King, Walls by Kevin Iega Jeff, Nascimento by David Parsons, and Porgy & Bess by Hope Clarke. In January 2000, Ms. Young was presented with The Dancers' Award for her artistic excellence and dedication to DBDT.

Ms. Young has been the Company Instructor (Horton Technique) since 1998 and teaches Horton Technique master classes both nationally and internationally. She currently teaches Ballet and Modern for Dallas Black Dance Academy and has trained the members of DBDT II. She taught the Horton Technique at Southern Methodist University as an Adjunct Instructor in 2004, and is currently an Adjunct Instructor of Modern Dance (Horton Technique) at Texas Woman's University. Ms. Young has also served as an advisory panelist for Office of Cultural Affairs, City of Dallas , Young Audiences of Dallas and Texas Commission on the Arts. She was also a member of the community organization National Women of Achievement.