DANCE

Melissa Rose “Shoshanna” Anthony

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As a dancer, I have studied various styles since I was three years old. I began as the distracted one who loved my teachers but probably wasn’t the one they would predict finding a life-long place in the dance world. However, in my years as a teacher I’ve come to realize that you never know who will be the one who will discover their passion and lifelong delight as they explore new art forms and mediums. I began as a student teacher in ballet classes at age fourteen and by twenty years of age, taught my first class at Humboldt State University as a directed study project in the Theatre Film and Dance Department. An actual lecturer since 2001, I still relish the chance to introduce people to dance, culture, and human expression through movement.

While my primary professional genre is Middle Eastern Dance, I have experience in Ballet, Jazz, Tap, Modern Dance and a deep love for the potential of Creative Dance. With a Mission Statement to “teach, motivate and encourage caring, passionate, creative thinkers who want to make a positive impact on the world and those around them,” I am extremely lucky to be able to dedicate most of my life to this goal. I own and operate Redwood Raks World Dance Studio where I host teachers and dance communities of all styles and offer classes for all ages, teach classes to new dancers and to aspiring teachers at Humboldt State University, and run a successful series of Summer Dance Camps for children.

While not a professional visual artist, I utilize my Studio Art and Art History Bachelor's Degree from Humboldt State University frequently in my pursuits. The concepts and cultural context of Art and Dance continually inspire and motivate me as I continually learn more, and deepen my own studies so that I might make more meaningful experiences for my students of all ages.