Jazz Dance Artist.
Dramaturg.
Scholar.
With her back to the camera, Melanie addresses a group of jazz dancers.
Photo by Kim Fuller
Jazz Dance Artist
Jazz dance, a uniquely Black American art form, is Melanie’s first movement language. Her choreographic voice is rhythmic and weighted, purposely perpendicular to modern and contemporary dance styles. Embracing and centering the African roots of jazz dance, Melanie teaches, choreographs, curates, and studies a historically informed technique titled: Neo-Jazz.
As the founder of Jazz Is… Dance Project, Melanie uplifts the work of the people, past and present, who keep jazz dance alive.
In a denim shirt, Melanie, looking directly into the camera, sits on the edge a proscenium stage.
Photo by JD Urban
Scholar
Intrigued by topics that are often relegated to the margins of history and criticism, Melanie’s research centers process before product and aims to provide context for the ineffable. Melanie investigates the past as prologue to future trends in dance.
Dedicated to advancing and redefining the field of dance studies, Melanie has held a wide range of faculty and director positions at leading colleges throughout the country.
Choreographer Bebe Miller, shown in a green shirt on the left, and Melanie, in a Prince sweatshirt on the right, discuss Bebe’s new work, while sitting in a theatrical venue.
Photo by Lila Hurwitz
Dance Dramaturg
Melanie provides creative and informational support to choreographers of all genres as a highly sought after Dance Dramaturg. Reflective of her commitment to inquiry, Melanie’s dramaturgical process focuses on supporting each choreographer’s journey to finding clarity of their vision. In this role, she not only helps artists hone their creative process, but also crafts essential, contextual language for the performers, collaborators, and audiences.
A group of jazz dance experts gather for a group photo. From L to R: Moncell Durden, Thom Cobb, Karen Hubbard, Billy Siegenfeld, Melanie George, Bob Boross, Danny Buraczeski, Darwin Prioleau, and Sheron Wray. Photo by Kim Fuller
Community Resources
Throughout her 25+ years as a dance professional and arts advocate, Melanie remains steadfastly committed to ensuring access to information, support, and critical resources.
With the intention to build an increasingly thriving and informed dance world, Melanie aggregates and shares information via her Community Resources Hub.
“Her work is distinctly different within the contemporary dance landscape but familiar because it resonates like a shared memory, Melanie’s aesthetic has the power to educate, transport, and inspire all at once.”
— Lindsay Guarino, Co-Editor of Rooted Jazz Dance: Africanist Aesthetics and Equity in the Twenty-First Century
Current Projects:
Header Image, situated at the top of this page — Wearing a floral print jumper, Melanie extends her arms, while throwing her head back against a brick background. The words Jazz Dance Artist, Dramaturg, and Scholar appear over the image on the right side of the screen.
Full bleed image, above the quote — In the same floral print jumper, Melanie looks directly at the camera with sunglasses on with her right hand extended in front of her face.
Photos by JD Urban