BBT alumni spotlight: Melissa “Missy” Weber
This month, we spotlight Boca Ballet Theatre alumna Melissa Weber, whose passion for dance has led her to perform across the country! Since graduating from BBT, Melissa—or “Missy,” as her BBT family calls her—has danced on television, in a music video, and on stage in works by ballet’s most visionary choreographers. Her story is a testament to where one’s passion and persistence can lead: a life filled with the joy of dance! Read more about Missy’s dance career and the advice she has for aspiring professional dancers.
Melissa Weber was born in North Haven, Connecticut, but started her ballet training in earnest when she moved to Boca Raton, Florida, at the end of seventh grade. After attending BBT’s production of Giselle with her mom, Melissa fell in love with the company and knew she wanted to attend BBT’s school to train. She received the majority of her early dance training at BBT under the tutelage of Jane Tyree and Dan Guin and at Alexander W. Dreyfoos School of the Arts under the guidance of Jeff Satinoff. While still in high school, Melissa gained first professional dance experiences in Louisville Ballet’s Don Quixote and Christopher Fleming’s Nutcracker in Lakeland, Florida.
Upon graduating from high school, she attended Wright State University and danced with Dayton Ballet II. After spending two years in Ohio, Melissa joined Nashville Ballet as a trainee. In 2004, she joined Charleston Ballet Theatre, where she danced soloist and principal roles for eight seasons.
Since moving to the Connecticut/NYC area, Melissa has performed with Ballet Neo, Arch Contemporary Ballet, and Benjamin Briones Ballet. She performed with Armada Dance in New York Fashion Week’s “Style Pointe” and served as a soloist with Connecticut Ballet and a principal dancer with CT Theatre Dance Company. Beyond the dance studio, Melissa has been featured in Jordan Matter’s book of photography Dancers After Dark, in Cal Kehoe’s music video “Marilyn”, and in the “Corpse de Ballet” episode of CBS’s serial drama Elementary. Melissa is currently performing with Dance Key West, Thomas/Ortiz Dance, and Sarah Berges Dance. She is also a founding member of the new ballet company American Dance Theatre in Westchester, New York!
In a recent interview, Melissa shared how Boca Ballet Theatre shaped her and her career as a dancer: “BBT gave me so many tools for my career. The amount of performance opportunities helped my confidence on stage and gave me a resume most professional dancers hope to achieve in their career. Performing with guest artists was inspiring and so helpful, as they would talk with us and answer any questions we had . . . I was also lucky to work with guest teachers and choreographers [BBT] brought in, which helped us all grow.”
Of course, seminal to any BBT dancer’s development is the guidance of our Co-Artistic Directors Jane Tyree and Dan Guin. “Dan and Jane were always there for us,” Melissa went on to say, “no matter any circumstance and really pushed us to be our best. They gave their knowledge to everyone; it didn’t matter if you wanted a career or not. They always pushed you and pulled out the best in you. They gave us great advice and knowledge from their careers.”
When asked what advice she would offer aspiring professional dancers, Melissa said, “never give up. If someone tells you no, prove them wrong. I was born with flat feet and bent knees, but I did it. You have to put the work in yourself, and it’s super hard but so rewarding. Never get discouraged by a rejection. Dermot Burke, former director of Dayton Ballet, once told us we are all different pieces of fruit. You can be a banana and go to the audition and be perfect but not picked . . . but in reality the company was looking for an apple. You never know what the directors are looking for or what the company needs at the time, but you keep going.” Melissa also counsels being versatile as a dancer: “Make sure to take different styles of dance because you never know what a choreographer may want.”
Finally, Melissa recommends taking advantages of one’s resources at BBT. “Use guest artists who come and perform and ask them questions,” she shared. “Ask Dan and Jane if they know people. All dancers want to help because a lot of this dance world is who you know.”
In the end, Melissa is grateful for her time at Boca Ballet Theatre. “BBT was a second home,” she said, “and my fondest childhood memories were made in the studio as well as lifelong friendships. We may all be in different states or stages of life but once we are all back together, it’s like no time has passed.”
We are so happy for Missy and proud of all she has accomplished since she danced in BBT’s studios! We hope you'll join us in congratulating her on her amazing career in professional dance!