As a belly dance generalist, her efforts to integrate, understand and appreciate this organic and beautiful dance form in it's many facets are ongoing.  As an instructor, Melissa wants to create versatile, artistic, dignified and respectful dancers with excellent, broad-based foundations.  As  a choreographer and consumnate showman, Melissa says, "I am happiest dancing at the intersection where sacred meets sensual meets circus. I want to be an anthropologist and an artist... honoring the past and anticipating the future. I am interested fusing various dance styles from throughout the Middle East, North and West Africa, Central Asia, North & East India, the Silk Road, the Romani (Gypsy) Trail and American Belly Dance and creating original, interesting, evocative modern choreographies and shows. My goal is to continue studying dance and music styles from various cultures, collaborate with excellent like-minded souls and, with respect and love, to share this ancient, artistic, athletic expression of a woman's power with students and audience members."