ABOUT MELENA

Melena Rounis is not just a choreographer, associate director, director, and performer, but a true embodiment of passion and creativity in the world of dance. With over 20 years of experience, Melena has dedicated her career to sharing her knowledge and love for dance through various mediums, including film, television, live performances, and shows.

Throughout her impressive journey, Melena has continuously pushed the boundaries of creativity, developing emotionally-driven and technologically advanced content that captivates audiences. She believes in the transformative power of dance, using it to enhance storylines, convey relationships, educate, and, above all, entertain.

Melena's outstanding work as a choreographer on Netflix's 'A Week Away' the Musical earned her a well-deserved nomination for a 2022 Leo Award. Her talent and expertise have also been showcased in projects such as the Sesame Street Live! tours, where she served as an associate director and choreographer, as well as groundbreaking research and development initiatives for Walt Disney Imagineering.

Her influence extends beyond the stage and screen, as Melena has lent her choreographic touch to numerous film and television productions, including the opening title sequence for HBO Max's 'Peacemaker'. She has collaborated with renowned brands such as Dancing with The Stars, Comedy Central, Honda, Kmart, Christian Louboutin, AIDS Health Foundation, and Knott's Berry Farm Amusement Park, leaving an indelible mark on each project.

Not only is Melena a master of her craft behind the scenes, but she is also a captivating performer. Her talent has graced prestigious stages, including Cirque du Soleil's Michael Jackson Immortal World Tour and The Beatles LOVE in Las Vegas. She has mesmerized audiences on popular reality and award shows like The Grammy’s MusicCares, Latin American Music Awards, America's Got Talent, American Idol, and Next Top Model. Melena has even had the privilege of performing alongside legendary artists such as Sir Paul McCartney, Pitbull, Maluma, French Montana, Daddy Yankee, and Vanilla Ice, to name just a few.

Having grown up in Vancouver, Canada, Melena's dance journey began at the age of 10 training in jazz, and additionally modern, ballet, musical theatre, hip hop, and lyrical dance. Her dedication to honing her skills led her to receive a summer scholarship at Toronto Dance Theatre and pursue a BFA Dance program at Simon Fraser University. Her love for culture and dance led her to further expanded her versatility and repertoire by exploring commercial dance, hip hop, and street styles like locking, breaking, popping, house, waacking, and voguing through drop-in classes and conventions. Melena’s love for salsa and partner dancing blossomed in Los Angeles, and she even achieved victory at the North American Bhangra Dance Championships with a group from Vancouver in her early 20s.

Beyond her own artistic pursuits, Melena is a passionate educator who inspires and supports the next generation of dancers. She has taught and adjudicated extensively across Canada, the United States, Australia, and Mexico, imparting her vast knowledge through large-scale conventions, summer intensives, guest master classes, choreography sessions, and private lessons. Her teaching expertise spans a wide range of styles, including street jazz/jazz funk, hip hop, locking, jazz, musical theater, heels, lyrical, and even Pilates, for which she is certified.

Melena Rounis is deeply grateful for her wealth of experiences as a student, performer, choreographer, and artistic mind. She continues to use her diverse background to create, educate, and entertain the world, leaving an enduring impact on the dance industry and inspiring countless individuals along the way.