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Positive Practice = Progressing Growth: Creating a positive and progressive learning environment is important to prepare a dancer for the path ahead. Whether a student dances professionally or not, the time & preparation in quality teaching shouldn’t be ignored. Melanie has taught many students who've found a coordinating career after their years in dance.
“Whether the child goes on to become a professional dancer or not, that shouldn’t matter. The building blocks and the dance education I give to them should allow that choice to happen. I always give more to my teaching moments then some other instructors. It’s all because I know that no matter where life takes them, I was a part of their dance journey and their overall growth…wherever life may take them.” -Melanie Durham
Melanie is a professional dance instructor who continues to invest time, finances, and brain-power into continuous growth for her teaching career. With over 30 years as a dance teacher, the safety of the dancer is always her first priority in both teaching and adjudication. Age-appropriate progressions, stretching, and technical training lacks as a focus for many instructors, but it is at the forefront for Melanie: the dancer is growing and the body needs to be protected. All classes & choreography taught by Melanie are with certified curriculums and her continuing dedication to dance education. Melanie Durham has been dancing since age 4 and is well-versed in ballet, jazz, tap, lyrical and Acrodance.
Melanie has devoted herself to teaching dance ever since teaching her first class at the age of 14. Melanie continued to inspire and be inspired in the art of dance by opening her own dance studio in Southern California in the summer of 2003. After successfully selling it in 2010, she continues to educate in the studio and as a well-seasoned dance competition judge for 15 years, exclusively with 3 national judge panels.
Melanie holds a Bachelor of Arts in Dance Performance and Composition from University of California, Riverside and continues to invest heavily in her professional development. Her wide range of certifications reflects her commitment to dancer safety, technical excellence, and lifelong learning, ensuring her knowledge remains current, trusted, and industry leading.














































































In Episode 209 of Making The Impact - A Dance Competition Podcast, we take a journey around the United States to discover the differences we see in each region at competition, and chat about how those differences can impact scoring, perception, and more!

Exclusive to Platinum Premium members on the Making The Impact YouTube channel!

In Episode 253 of Making The Impact - A Dance Competition Podcast, IDA judges from across the country chime in to give listeners the inside scoop on what they want to see at competition this season - from choreography to costumes and everything in between! **Melanie contributes many times in this episode**

With over 30 years of experience in the dance industry, Melanie has become a trusted source for high-quality dance instruction for dance studios as a business. You can find Melanie Durham as a regular guest on Dani's Dance Talk, based in Utah and reaching to so many listeners throughout the USA.

Melanie's position with Class Manager as a Customer Success & Sales Manager happily gives her the ability to create blog articles that are written for dance studio owners and teachers to easily digest, learn from, and apply in today's industry climate.