Samantha Melo

           Born in New York, Samantha began her training at the age of five with Roya Curie, former prima ballerina of the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo. After Curie’s passing, Samantha continued her studies with Peter and Lisa Newman of New York City Ballet and Valerie Feit of Alvin Ailey. Throughout her childhood Samantha was accepted to and attended many summer intensives such as the Joffrey Ballet School, Alvin Ailey and the American Academy of Ballet. In 2002, Samantha was accepted into and attended the University of Hartford’s Hartt Conservatory division on scholarship, under the direction of Peggy Lyman. In 2004, she was awarded a scholarship to attend Point Park University’s Conservatory of Performing Arts where she received her Bachelor’s Degree in Dance Performance and Dance Pedagogy in 2006. Upon Graduation, Samantha became a faculty member for the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre and Pittsburgh Youth Ballet and began her professional dancing career with Bodiography Contemporary Ballet. Her dancing quickly took her out to Los Angeles, where she danced principal roles with companies such as California Contemporary Ballet, Creations Dance Theatre, Media City Ballet, and Louise Reichlan’s Los Angeles Choreographers and Dancers. Samantha was also chosen to represent both Trio and Bloch talent agencies where she booked many jobs in the entertainment business. As for teaching, Samantha taught for many different prestigious studios throughout Los Angeles as well as for the LA Unified School District and many private schools. In 2011, Samantha returned to Pittsburgh where she opened The Pennsylvania Academy of Dance and accumulated over 200 students just within the first year. In 2016, she opened up a second location in Pittsburgh to expand her business which continues to grow and expand. Today, Samantha resides back in Los Angeles with where she has opened another studio, The Dance Conservatory of Los Angeles. She also teaches at the prestigious Debbie Allen Dance Academy and is a private instructor to many celebrity families.