Melanie Bales (Professor) attended Interlochen Arts Academy, and studied ballet in New York City at the Joffrey School, and as a Harkness Ballet Trainee. She graduated Magna cum Laude from Carleton College and was elected into Phi Beta Kappa, and received an MFA from the University of Illinois, where she was a Visiting Assistant Professor from 1982 - 1988, choreographing, performing and teaching both ballet and modern technique. She spent three years performing both classical and operetta repertoire in West Germany, and also danced principal duet roles with Douglas Nielsen Dance, New York. During the summers of 1985 - 87, she was guest faculty for Cleveland State University's Summerdance program. Her choreography has received several state and national awards, including a piece on the ACDFA 1986 National Honors Benefit Concert. In 1994, Ms. Bales completed the course in Laban Movement Analysis through the Laban/Bartenieff Institute of Movement Studies, New York. At Ohio State, she teaches ballet technique and Laban studies. Ms. Bales has received support to commission dances for performance from choreographers including John Giffin, Iréne Hultman, Daniel Nagrin, Tere O'Connor and Catherine Turocy. In 1999, she and colleague Nicole Stanton presented an evening of works at the Wexner Center Performance Space, and she has choreographed several pieces for OSU Dance Downtown. She has presented papers for professional organizations including CORD, ICKL, LIMS and NDEO. Her recent book The Body Eclectic (2007) examines training practices in the post-Judson era.

education

MFA in Modern Dance Performance & Choreography,
University of Illinois

BA from Carleton College