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Melinda Matticoli

Dancer and Choreographer

Melinda Matticoli Headshot

About Melinda

Melinda Matticoli (She/Her/Hers) is an award winning dancer and choreographer from Skillman, New Jersey. She has presented work and performed at many notable and Off-Broadway Theaters including Symphony Space, Dixon Place, Mark Morris Dance Center, and Soho Playhouse, to name a few. Melinda has worked with artists including Cat Cogliandro, Aspen Waddell, Michaela McGowan, Kevin Jenkins, and the Verdon Fosse Legacy. Melinda began professionally choreographing at the age of 17, and has presented work at festivals including Journey Dance Awards, Dance Bloc,  and WAX Works.

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As an emerging choreographer, Melinda’s work incorporates various speeds, tempos, and layers through dynamic pedestrian inspired movement with influences of jazz and contemporary style movement and gestures. Melinda's work on film has been presented at many notable film festivals and has won awards for Best Dance Choreography through New York International Film Awards and Oniros Film Awards.

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Melinda is passionate about teaching and teaches at various studios throughout the east coast. Her classes focus on challenging students to find their artistic voice and identities through improvisation and choreography. In addition, Melinda teaches barre at Physique 57, and is certified under Dance Equity Education Association's "Be Courageous" training.

Artistic Statement

Dance is a very unique and powerful artform, and it not only allows dancers to express themselves, but at the same time for people to tell life stories. As a choreographer, I hope to provide a space for dancers of all experiences, backgrounds, and levels to dive into their art and allow space for them to explore while enjoying the process along the way. Allowing dancers to explore their artistic identities through my work is something so important to me as an artist.

 

Improvisation is such a powerful and vulnerable tool, and I use this to not only develop new vocabulary but to discover more concepts for my work. In so many classes and styles, not only in dance but throughout life, we as humans are told a certain way that things have to be done, and there is often very little voice for others to incorporate their own experiences or stories. When teaching and staging choreography, my process leads into conversations on how dancers can create their own storyline and make the choreography feel best in their bodies through improvisational and explorative tools. Collaboration is another important aspect that I value because it is so important to make sure dancers understand and feel confident in what they are dancing. 

 

Through the use of improvisation and through my experiences as a dancer training throughout New York City, I have developed a unique style focusing on gestural phrase work, influences of jazz technique, and a large influence on musically while taking account of simple life-like movements. Throughout this process, I incorporate different textures and elements while allowing space for dancers to work on developing their storyline based on what they feel called to do. While every work that I create is different, unique, and special in their own ways, I value these attributes about my work and hope to make an impact on audience members through various media forms.

Upcoming

Shows and Screenings

New York International Film Awards Screening (Choreographer)
Producers Club, New York
Monday September 18th 7 PM

Mignolo International Screendance Festival (Choreographer)
Mignolo Arts Center, NJ
Saturday September 23rd, 1 PM

Classes and Workshops

Physique 57 Barre Classes (Trainer)
Brooklyn, NY

For masterclasses, workshops, choreography, and other teaching inquiries, email melindamatt1@verizon.net for more information!

When Waves Collide
(Collaborator)
Flemington DIY, NJ
Friday November 10th 7 PM (Tickets Coming Soon)

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