Melissa Woelfel currently teaches tap and hip hop at the University of Idaho. Dancing since the age of 3, she began her teaching career 17 years ago as the Director and Choreographer of the University of Rhode Island Ramettes Dance Line.

Most recently, she was a tap dance clinician for the 2009 Lionel Hampton International Jazz Festival, Company Choreographer for Idaho Repetory Theatre and the choreographer for the University of Idaho productions of Die Fledermaus and Urinetown. Prior to moving to Moscow, Melissa performed hip hop, jazz, and jazz funk repertory at the Boulder Jazz Dance Workshop in Boulder, CO. She also performed at the Boulder Tap Jam with her tap instructor Gene Gebauer, a former Broadway dancer. Her experience also includes participating in hip hop master classes from members of the True II Form Hip Hop Company and with Tweety at Motions Underground. Ms. Woelfel has participated in tap jams, master classes and workshops given by such great artists as Jason Samuels Smith, Brenda Bufalino, Gregg Russell, Gail Benedict, Robert Reed, Bril Barrett, Chloe Arnold, Acia Gray, and Katherine Kramer. She has also choreographed and performed as a feature dancer with Danceworks and Choreographer’s Showcase productions at Lewis Clark State College.

Melissa grew up in Rhode Island as an accomplished flute player, and earned her Bachelor of Music with High Distinction from the University of Rhode Island.