Marisa Danielle Melvin

Marisa, is a dance artist and educator born, raised, and currently based in Durham, North Carolina. She has been dancing since she was three years old and realized her love for creative movement at an early age. Marisa has had the privilege to dance in many wonderful spaces and with many inspiring professionals over the years, notably with Ronald K. Brown/EVIDENCE Dance Company and Andrea Woods Valdés. She has also held a work-study at Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre. Currently, Marisa works as a teaching artist with North Carolina Arts in Action, a non-profit that uses dance, music and performance to instill self-esteem, perseverance, and excellence in children. In the spirit of continued creative growth and exploration, Marisa has decided to take on graduate studies at Duke University in the Master of Fine Arts in Dance: Embodied Interdisciplinary Praxis program. Her research is based in the origins and evolution of Afro Cuban music and dance and explores the connection between community, movement, and well-being. Marisa recently founded Ayọ̀ Dance Company where she shares her passion for dance through workshops and performances.