Melissa Anderson

Melissa Anderson is a Lecturer in Dance at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee's Peck School of the Arts. A former professional dancer, she performed with the Milwaukee Ballet, Orlando Ballet (formerly Southern Ballet Theatre), Icelandic National Ballet, and other renowned companies. She holds certification in American Ballet Theatre's National Training Curriculum (Pre-Primary through Level 3).

Her pedagogical approach emphasizes body-friendly ballet techniques that preserve artistic rigor while rejecting traditionally punitive training methods. Research interests include:

• Adaptive ballet instruction for diverse learners
• Kinesthetic safety and injury prevention
• Interdisciplinary connections between technical training and choreographic expression

As a master teacher, she regularly conducts workshops at national dance conferences including Chicago National Association of Dance Masters (CNADM) and Texas Association Teachers of Dance (TATD). She maintains active artistic practice through choreography and performances with Milwaukee's Danceworks Performance Company (2002–2019).