Studio Flora
30 N. Maple St.
Florence, MA
413.210.5800

Melinda has a BA in physics from Cornell and an MFA in dance from Bennington. After college, she danced with a chamber ballet co. in NYC before finding her way to the study of Anatomical Release technique, an exciting hybrid of dance and bodywork. She participated in anatomically based improvisation and performance with Nancy Topf, a pioneer of Anatomical Release technique, in whose work she is certified. Fascinated to discover centuries old Chinese body/mind work, Melinda practices and was certified to teach qigong by Professor Chen, Hui-Xian of the Oregon College of Oriental Medicine. She is also a certified Iyengar style Yoga teacher through the Karuna Center in Northampton, MA, and is a nationally certified, licensed massage therapist, as well as a certified practitioner of Jin Shin Jyutsu, a Japanese energy work. She has practiced bodywork since 1995.

Composing While Dancing: An Improviser's Companion, Melinda's new book published by the University of Wisconsin, contains the improvisation practices of 26 contemporary dance artists who use improvisation in their dancemaking. The book features the work of Nancy Topf and Dynamic Anatomy/Topf Technique®. Discover more about the book on YouTube here: http://www.youtube.com/user/mrbuckwa1.