Staff

Miss Melanie has been dancing over 55 years, and a Studio Owner for over 40 of them. She got her start in the business as a local Hi-Liner performer in the 1970's, and as a child, was a touring Caravan Kid with Hoctor's Dance Convention as a demonstrator - one of the first touring seminars in the Nation. After a successful child/teen modeling career, and years of concentrated dance training in Musical Theatre, Jazz, Tap, Ballet & Acrobatics, she shifted her emphasis to her undergraduate studies in Elementary Education and Music, while maintaining her busy Dance Studio. She is also an active Rotarian (even the Past President!) and volunteers in her community as often as she possibly can ~

She has trained with some of the best instructors in the nation, has been awarded numerous Choreography awards, and currently coaches the Diamond award-winning Jazz and Mini teams at MDU. Melanie has worked with the Highline School District in the art docent program and after-school dance program, judged Scholarship pageants, and is also a grandmother of Seven (her favorite job to date!)! Melanie specializes in Musical Theatre, Jazz and Tap, but has a great affinity for the beginning preschool and elementary dancer – it’s her favorite age group!

She is a lover of the arts, and hopes that her excitement and enthusiasm translates to each of her amazing students on this dance journey.

“The one who falls and gets up is stronger than the one who never tried. Do not fear failure but rather fear not trying.”
― Roy T. Bennett

Jacob is a Third-Generation Dance Instructor from a legacy family of award-winning Dancers.

His training began with Tap, Ballet and Jazz which later grew to include Lyrical, Contemporary, Hip Hop / Jazz Funk, Acrobatics, Step Dancing and Aerial hoop & silks.

Jacob has many Performance accolades to his name, from award-winning Groups to Solo World Championship Awards. He found the same success as both an Instructor and Choreographer. Jacob's ability to accentuate the strengths of each dancer has taken his groups to the top and created a lifelong love of dance that he imparts to each of his students.

Audiences recognize his choreography for its entertainment value. Jacob did his undergraduate work at PLU, then left to Open and operate two successful dance academies, which he has since sold. He now entertains and performs thru Comedy, Event Coordination, and Dance, as well as teaching all around the PNW.

Jacob teaches a balanced class that is mentally and physically challenging all while infusing humor and fun!

Heather is a former student at Melanie’s Dance Unlimited who is thrilled to be back at her hometown studio. During college Heather trained in the Chapman University dance program as well as the UW dance department in which she participated in several student choreography performances. The majority of Heather’s training has been at Westlake Dance Center since MDU where she trained with Hannah Wintrode as a part of The Westsiders for 2 seasons.

Heather also had the pleasure of directing The Black Floor Collective dance company out of Westlake Dance Center for 3 seasons. After college Heather moved to London where she continued her training at Pineapple Dance Studio and Studio 68. At Studio 68 Heather had the rewarding experience of training under Tamara Kramer in the Studio68 Training Academy with dancers from all over the world.

In addition to training and performance, Heather has had the wonderful opportunity to sub classes at Westlake Dance Center, Ignite Dance and Yoga, Melanie’s Dance Unlimited and D&G Dance Company. Heather is dedicated to being a lifelong student of Dance.

Sydney Buckley is a Seattle native, and an alumnus of the University of Washington, where she earned a B.A. in English and dance. Following graduation, she performed with the nationally acclaimed 5th Avenue Theater. There, she worked closely with choreographers Joshua Bergasse, Kerry Casserly, and Angelique Ilo, as well as directors Scott Schwartz and David Bennett. Her performance credits include the 5th Avenue World-Premiere production of Secondhand Lions and A Chorus Line.

Having always dreamed of working for the mouse, Sydney then moved to Los Angeles, where she "earned her ears" as a cast member at the Disneyland Resort. She performed daily in California Adventure's "Pixar Play Parade," and was later honored to be chosen as part of the original cast of Disneyland's 60th Anniversary nighttime spectacular, "Paint the Night Parade."

Growing up, Sydney trained, and later, taught and coached competitive teams at Melanie's Dance Unlimited. Throughout her time there, she earned choreography awards and competition titles, including HDE's Hollywood Walk of Fame Scholarship and Dupree Dance All Star. Sydney has gone on to teach on faculty at both Hollywood Dance Experience and Dupree Dance, and still tours with the latter on weekends off from her favorite full-time job as wife to her husband Joseph, and mother to Olive and sons Corin and Roman.