Hi, I'm Melissa!
I’m a professional dancer and dance instructor in Chicago, specializing in hip hop, house, and modern dance.
My roots are in Chicago, where I played sports in grammar school and danced at Joel Hall Dancers and Center in high school. I moved to Philadelphia to attend the University of the Arts and graduated with a BFA in Dance. It was in Philly that I danced with Illstyles and Peace Productions, Archedream for Humankind, and Smoke Lilies and Jade.
When I moved back to Chicago in 2009, I returned to Joel Hall. I’ve had the honor of guest-dancing with Chicago Dance Crash, Nicole Wood, Boogie McClarin, and Paul Sanasardo; entering many hip hop battles across the midwest; and performing my own choreography. To share dance with others, I teach youth and adult classes at Ruth Page Center for the Arts, I’m an artist in residence at the Union 1 Boys and Girls Club, and I host open breaking practices at Clarendon Park for anyone in the community.
Reel
Footage of Melissa Metro at battles and performances demonstrating wacking, house, locking, and hip hop.
Sing Sing Sing
Footage of Melissa Metro performing a swing and breakdancing piece choreographed by Nicole Wood. Contact Melissa Metro for the password to watch.
Y2Day
A preview of Joel Hall’s Y2Day on WGN TV for Chicago Dance Month, performed by Melissa Metro, Casundria Fair, Julie Matolo, Jacqueline Sanders, Kristin Vollmer, and Heather Zimny.
Don't Sleep On Me
A house and contemporary piece Melisa Metro choreographed and performed with Lawrence Chan for A New Light as part of the Trifecta Dance Collective.
Don't Sleep On Me
A house and contemporary piece Melissa Metro choreographed and performed with Lawrence Chan at Joel Hall Dance Center.
Voices
A house and contemporary piece Melissa Metro choreographed and performed in collaboration with Lawrence Chan and Alex Gossen.
Chicago Dance Supply
Melissa Metro models in a promotional photoshoot for Chicago Dance Supply.
Breaking Practice
Get a sneak peek of Melissa Metro practicing with her crew.
Breakdown: Alternating Baby Freezes
Melissa Metro breaks down how to do a classic break dance move for her class.
Breakdown: Heel-Toe
Melissa Metro breaks down how to do a classic hip hop move for her class.
Breakdown: Tic-Tocs and Mike & Ike’s
Melissa Metro breaks down how to do classic hip hop moves for her class.
Breakdown: Spongebob
Melissa Metro breaks down how to do a classic hip hop move for her class.
Breakdown: Freezes
Melissa Metro breaks down how to do a classic break dance move for her class.
2019 Performances
Y2Day, Joel Hall, Millenium Park, Chicago (August)
Etude#4, El Gato Negro, Joel Hall, CMDAM (July)
Y2Day, El Gato Negro, Joel Hall, NHSDF (April)
A New Light, Melissa Metro, Chicago (January)
2018 Performances
Nuts & Bolts, Joel Hall, Chicago (November)
Hernandez Middle School, Isabelle Colazzo (June)
Ethical Humanist Society, TBuggs & Melissa Metro (February)
A New Light, Melissa Metro & Joel Hall, Chicago (January)
2017 Performances
We the People, Joel Hall (August & October)
Chicago Beatbox Collective, Yuri Basho Lane (July)
Hernandez Middle School, Isabelle Colazzo (June)
2016 Performances
Sing Sing Sing, Nicole Wood (October)
11 Years After, Jim Morrow (May & June)
2015 Performances
Tribute to Billy Strayhorn, Joel Hall (November)
Y2Day, Joel Hall
2014 Performances
Nuts & Bolts, Joel Hall, Chicago (November)
2013 Performances
Nuts & Bolts, Joel Hall, Chicago (November)
Hip Hop Dance Instruction
Gems World Academy (2018)
Dovetail Dance Studio (2018)
Hip Hop Outreach Ruth Page (2017)
Adult Hip Hop at Ruth Page (2015)
Main South High School Masterclass (2014)
Masterclasses for Joel Hall Dancers and Center (2014)
Hip Hop for Youth at Hubbard Street Dance Center (2013)
Hip Hop Masterclass for Stellar Dance Productions (2012)
Youth Program at Ruth Page (2012)
MasterClass at Hubbard Street Dance Center (2011)
Hip Hop Lecture Demonstrations at Millennium Park/Old Town School of Folk Music (2010)
House Dance Instruction
House Master Class for DePaul (2015)
House Masterclass for Lakeshore Athletic Club (2011)
Other Dance Instruction
Dance for Non Dancers for LeapCast Dance Crew (2014)
Jazz & Disco for Hyde Park School of Ballet (2011)
