MELISSA PANTON

Melissa's passion for the performing arts led her to pursue a career as a performer, instructor, choreographer, and adjudicator. She began as a highland dancer in her native Vancouver, B.C, and later moved on to hiphop, jazz, lyrical, ballet, house, tap, stage, and acting. Melissa's professional career has enabled her to travel extensively across North America, Europe, and Southeast Asia to perform and train. She now resides in Toronto, Ontario.

Melissa has several film and television credits including the upcoming sci-fi thriller "Silent Hill", "White Chicks" starring Marlon and Shawn Wayans, "Shall We Dance" with Jennifer Lopez and Richard Gere, Disney's "Cheetah Girls", "The 6th Day", and "Evel Knievel". She can be seen in commercials for Superbowl XXXVII, Bally's Total Fitness, The Keg, The Bay, Budweiser, and Marks Work Wearhouse, and throughout Asia and Australia as a dancer and print model for Minolta's swing dance commercial series. Recently was introduced to the reality tv world on programs such as "Love By Design" and "Making It Big" that aired in the spring. Melissa has worked with such artists as Shaggy, 3LW, Hillary Duff, Grandmaster Flash, Ja Rule, The Beatnuts, Hammer, Wierd Al Yankovic, Michael Buble, and Leslie Nielsen in various projects, and continues to work with upcoming musical artists to introduce them to, or help develop their movement and performance.

Melissa was the choreographer and artistic director for the CFL's BC Lions Dance Team, and has extensive experience as a choreographer and dancer with several professional dance teams including the Toronto Raptors, Vancouver Grizzlies, and NLL Vancouver Ravens. She has worked for Nike, Coca-Cola, Ralph Lauren, Dish, Sears Canada, and Electronic Arts in numerous live industrial and fashion shows, including the 18th annual Gemini Awards in Toronto. Melissa was fortunate to tour through Greece, Germany, Croatia and Southeast Asia for two Canadian Forces show tours with Operation Apollo and Athena. Currently Melissa is completing her certificate in performing arts management and administration at Humber College.

Melissa is the director of administration for Groove Street Productions conventions and a faculty assistant for Street Groove- the hiphop convention, as well as a faculty member for Dancefuzion and The Move Dance Project. She enjoys teaching and adjudicating nationally where she is known as a spirited and humorous instructor, instilling her knowledge, passion, and enthusiasm from beginner to professional levels.

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