Melissa del Sol

Ms. del Sol comes to Dance Alive from the University of Virginia where she was a merit scholarship student and received a B.A. in Studio Art (photography) and a B.A. in Drama. She began her ballet training with South Jersey Ballet Theatre where she performed "Myrtha" in Giselle and "Snow Queen" and "Dew Drop" in The Nutcracker. Later she performed with and choreographed for the Virginia Dance Company and for the Virginia Fringe Festival. Ms. Del Sol has a strong theatre background, with performances in The Pajama Game, Anything Goes, and Heritage Repertory Theatre’s Ragtime and Damn Yankees. Ms. Del Sol is a dramatic, dancer with graceful power. She made her debut with Dance Alive National Ballet in Frankenstein and has been featured in Kim Tuttle’s Sincerely and Carmen. Ms. Del Sol’s speed and attack are notable in the role of "Baby Butterfly" in Ladybug: Action Hero, Judy Skinner’s Who is Silent and Rick Tjia’s Aeia Bridled. She was Director of Development during the 2006-2007 season. Ms. Del Sol is currently pursuing a Master of Science in Management at the University of Florida.

PERSONAL PROFILE

Hometown: Born in Gainesville, FL; Grew up in Voorhees, NJ

What I do on my spare time: Work on my Master of Science in Management degree at UF; President of UVa Club of Gainesville; traveling; shopping; baking; singing; being creative

Favorite Dance Roles: "Stella" in A Streetcar Named Desire (Tuttle), "Nous Sommes" (Canteloube/Gamonet), Spartacus (Grand Pas de Deux), Sugar Plum Fairy

Favorite vacation place: Europe, especially Italy and Spain.

Why I dance: I love having the ability to translate music into movement.  Dance is gratifying to the soul; it asks you to look inward and present what you have to the world.  It is completely challenging, rewarding, fulfilling, and gives me great happiness.