Melissa Belen Souto

Melissa is a classically-trained ballet dancer born in 1992 Buenos Aires, raised in Mar del Plata, Argentina.
She began pursuing dance studies at the age of 4, and at the age of 6 she continued her dance education at “Norma Fontenla” Dance School upon graduation where she became an active member of the Company Dance School. She also started her jazz studies with Bruno Garcia in Mar del Plata, and to improve the technique she took seminars with Gustavo Wons in Buenos Aires. She has the opportunity to take Pepe Cibrian seminars too about musical comedy.
Soon thereafter, Melissa continued her studies with Marilyn Monaco, a prestigious teacher graduated at the Teatro Colon, Buenos Aires, Argentina, Susana Alvarez, and with Marta Sol Bendahan, and Stella Maris in Contemporany. She has the opportunity to participate in different local competitions, and in 2011 she performed in “Certamen Internacional de Danzas”, Competition held in Barcelona, Spain going on to the finals.
In 2010 she started to participate in several of American Ballet Theatre’s summer intensive programs, with: Joe Istre – Ethan Brown- Olga Dvorovenko- Harriet Clark- Fiona Evans- Maria Holm- Jessica Lang Segawa- Kate Lydon- Clarice Marshall- Jim Philips- Brian Reeder- Lupe Serrano- Richard Toda- Melissa A. Bowman- Raymond Lukens- Flavio Salazar.
In 2012, Melissa moved to New York to continue her studies with teachers such as Ethan Brown, Olga Dvorovenko, Jessica Lang Segawa, Kate Lydon, Brian Reeder, Lupe Serrano, Richard Toda, Raymond Lukens, Francois Perron, Igal Perri, David Howard , Debbie Roshe, Wilhelm Burmann, Elena Kunikova, Pamela Pribisco, Craig Salstein. She also has the opportunity to study with Héctor Zaraspe in New York. This year she also enrolled "Swing and Jazz" Company performing jazz, tap and salsa, directed by Anahi Ramos and Bruno Garcia.

Along 2013, Melissa continued her training in New York City with teachers like, Nancy Bielski, Wilhem Burman, Fabrice Herrault, and individual preparation with Luciana Paris (American Ballet Theater dancer)

Over the course of her dance career, Melissa has performed roles in several renowned ballets, featuring in Bolero de Ravel, Giselle, Paquita, Waltz of Flowers, Bayader, Raymonda, Swan Lake, among others.
She is also a certified teacher in accordance with American Ballet Theater’s National Training Curriculum in Levels Pre- Primary to Level 5.