Melody Mennite on Her Incredible Career as a Principal Dancer with Houston Ballet + What's Next!

Melody Mennite Principal ballerina formerly with Houston Ballet and currently dancing with Vitacca Ballet. She has toured internationally to perform the classics as well as contemporary work in dance. Some of her classical Principal roles include Odette/Odile, Aurora, Kitri, Sugar Plum Fairy and Clara in The Nutcracker, Cinderella, Manon, Juliet, The Sylph in Bournanville’s La Sylphide, Nikya in La Bayadere, Ciao Ciao San in Madame Butterfly, Marie in the ballet Marie, Tatiana and Olga in Onegin, Stephanie and Mary Vetsera in Meyerling, Swanhilda in Coppelia, Valencienne in The Merry Widow, and Lise in La Fille mal Gardee. Melody’s most recent international appearance was in the role of Juliet for the Houston Ballet’s Romeo and Juliet tour to Melbourne, Australia. During Melody’s professional career she has also originated roles in new classical and contemporary productions by choreographers Christopher Wheeldon, Justin Peck, Stanton Welch, Ben Stevenson, Christopher Bruce, Jorma Elo, Cathy Marston, Paul Taylor, Aszure Barton, Nicole Fonte, Annabelle Lopez Ochoa, Olivier Wevers, Oliver Halkowich, Jane Weiner, and Garret Smith as well as in her dual role as dancer/choreographer for several films. Melody enjoys all forms of dance and has extensive training and experience with styles rooted in classical ballet, contemporary, jazz, and hip hop. She is passionate about both learning and teaching what she has learned with others. Ms. Mennite has graced the cover of both Dance Magazine and Dance Europe and is celebrated as the Audrey Hepburn of ballet due to her dynamic acting and a predisposition for comedic roles. As an actor Melody has achieved two award winning performances in film and continues to build this part of her resume. Also from a musical family Ms. Mennite was singing onstage before she ever started training in dance. She has been professionally recorded and released and has performed leading singing roles in regional productions of both West Side Story and Oklahoma. Melody’s choreography has been featured on film, in music videos, and on ballet stages throughout the United States. In the last ten years she has been commissioned to create thirteen separate works nationally. Her hobbies include spending time in the outdoors, spending time with her son and two dogs, singing/making music, reading, writing, and practicing new ways to make art. Listen to this episode on Spotify: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/sh... Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... To learn more about my mindset coaching and speaking services, visit kirstenkemp.com To stay up to date on the latest announcements and blog posts at The Confident Dancer, sign up to be a part of my email newsletter community here: https://theconfidentdancer.kit.com/b4... To follow along for daily tips and behind-the-scenes looks at what I'm up to, follow me on Instagram at @kirsten_theconfidentdancer ________________________________________________________________________ WORK WITH ME 1:1! THE CONFIDENT DANCER COACHING PROGRAM: A 1:1 Coaching Program to master the mental side of dance so you can confidently perform to your fullest potential. Perfect for pre-professional, professional, or recreational dancers wanting overcome mental blocks like self-doubt, performance anxiety, perfectionism, comparison, insecurities, etc., and build a truly confident mindset that allows you to perform your personal best with joy. Learn more and apply here: https://kirstenkemp.com/confident-dan... ________________________________________________________________________ SPEAKING & WORKSHOPS: I offer mindset seminars to equip dancers with the inspiration and practical tools to thrive in their well-being and ability to perform their personal best. These 60-90 minute seminars can be a valuable addition to the holistic support and education of your dancers at your next intensive, year-round program, or professional development opportunity for your company dancers. Learn more and inquire here: https://kirstenkemp.com/speaking-and-... ________________________________________________________________________ ONLINE COURSES: My online course offerings are a wonderful way to learn the practical steps to retraining your mind so you can thrive and excel in your dancing, all at your own pace and for a more affordable price than individual coaching. Whether your goal is to break through fear and nervousness so you can show up confidently in your auditions or you want to release the self-criticism or self-doubt that's been draining all the joy out of dancing lately, The Confident Dancer Course and rotating mini-courses available are designed to help you do just that. Learn more and enroll here: https://kirstenkemp.com/online-course...