As JazzDayz Bamberg 2025 approaches, we are excited to introduce you to one of our key instructors, Melanie Day, founder of MDance Creative. Known for her vibrant energy and unwavering passion for dance, Melanie brings a wealth of experience and inspiration to her Musical Jazz classes. Here’s a closer look at her journey and philosophy.
What got you into Dance, or what/who was your inspiration?
My Mom put me and my sisters into ballet class at a very early age, she wanted us to have good posture and help improve our flat feet. It was love at first sight and that love is still going as strong as ever! I watched the film “ A Chorus Line” on VHS Tape about a hundred times learning the Choreography off as best as I could and I always felt a strong connection with “the girl in the green two-part” – Michelle Johnston aka BB Brown. The shy girl in the background who has a hidden power. The final inspiration, the moment I knew I wanted to dance professionally was watching the performance of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre REVELATION when I was 13 years old. To this day this company is everything to me!
What is your best or funniest memory of a moment on Stage or Screen?
I have had a lot of funny moments on stage, I can’t even count the times I fell! The best one was even captured on video and it is me running off stage into the wing and our DC had previously reminded us to keep looking forward as running off stage and so I did! For some reason that one night I was a little further forward than usual and I hit the hard wing head on which made me fall and straddle the wing. I crawled off stage and nearly tripped my fellow cast members as they were running off stage as well! When we watched the videos we were crying with laughter.
What advice would you give young dancers todays?
As Dancers you spent most of your dancers Life in the studio, probably between 85 and 90%. Use that time wisely and to your utmost potential! Don’t wait to perform that routine or that warmup or that diagonal until you’re on stage! You won’t be able to perform it miraculously on stage just because you have a costume on, because you never connected emotionally to the choreography and never practiced showing such emotions within the steps - no matter what style of dance you do! You need to feel the Dance and be authentic and truthful to its message, not for attention and video likes!
CLASSES
Commercial Jazz
Musical Jazz
Lyrical Jazz