Artistic Director/Choreographer
Melissa Kelley's Dance Studio of Braintree,LLC was founded by Melissa Kelley in 1991. She began her own dance education at age 2 ½.  In 1989, Melissa graduated from The Dance Teacher’s Club of Boston/American Society teacher training course.  Melissa has been a member of DTCB/AS since 1992.  She is certified by test to teach. 

During her earlier years as a dance student, Melissa danced many principal roles in ballets such as Coppelia, Hansel and Gretal, Alice in Wonderland, La Boutique Fantastique, Circus Days, Cinderella and many more.  While attending Bridgewater State College she was a member of the Dance Company at the college.  Melissa helped with choreography for Winterdance, the annual holiday performance in 1990. 

During the season Melissa participates in many programs offered by major dance organizations as well as teaching for them.  She has performed for noted composer and choreographer, Dr Leland Owen Clark, and has danced as the soloist in one of his videos for classical piano music.  Melissa also teaches many master classes and choreographs competition pieces for many other dance studios.

From 1991-1995, Melissa was the choreographer for the Archbishop Williams High School drama department.  She worked with the students on such plays as Saturday Night Live, Bye-Bye Birdie, The Pajama Game, Pippin, Anything Goes and her favorite, Godspell.

For many years Melissa has been entering her top level dancers into dance competitions.  Her students have been awarded some of the highest medal standings possible.  Her students have won numerous high scores and special awards.  Melissa has received awards for “overall Excellence” for her ballet and pointe choreography as well “The Carole Miller Award” for having the highest standards for dance education.  Some of Melissa’s students have gone on to win both regional and national dance titles.

Many of Melissa's students have gone on to college after receiving dance scholarships. These scholarships have been awarded from top dance organizations as well as the colleges based on audition and testing scores. Melissa is also proud to have students that have moved on to dance at the professional level.

Besides teaching at her own studio, Melissa is often asked to teach master classes in classical ballet, pointe and lyrical dance.  She has taught classes for private dance schools as well as organizations such as Dance Master’s of America, Dance Teacher’s Club of Boston and Dance Ovations Performing Arts  Competition.  Melissa has also worked as a judge at both regional and national levels of competitions and scholarship programs.

In 1994, Melissa formed The Braintree Ballet Company.  Student members perform some of the most loved and well known classical ballets.  The company has performed ballets such as “Cinderella”, “Coppelia”, “The Sleeping Beauty”, “Hansel and Gretal” a company original tilted “An Evening with Degas”, A Gala Performance, and Melissa’s annual production of “The Nutcracker”.  The company dancers have also had the opportunity to dance selections from Giselle, Swan Lake, A Mid- Summer Night’s Dream and many others including original works of both classical and contemporary dance.

Melissa continues her dance education by attending classes and workshops to provide the most current trends in dance to her students as well as educate her dancers with the newest techniques on classical styles.She continues to give every opportunity to her dancers that she is able to with hopes that they will enjoy the art of dance to it's fullest.