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Guest Choreographers Take Center Stage

9/24/2025

It’s going to be an exciting season for the Masters Dance Company.

This year’s troupe of 26 students is working under the guidance of guest choreographers, invited by Melissa Edwards, upper school dance teacher and MDC director, to help the dancers explore new styles and rhythms this fall.

Edwards focused on selecting professional-level choreographers who could enrich the students’ experience. She sought choreographers whose pedagogy supports the dance company’s mission of inclusion and positivity and who will add eclectic styles and fresh voices to upcoming shows.

Ari Melnick ’26 was excited to be in the advanced contemporary class with Smith College MFA graduate Niki Farahani and is looking forward to having classes in the new dance studio in Follett Hall.

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Other choreographers include: Morgan McEwen of MorDance (ballet/contemporary), Emilia Sikorsky (contemporary), Brittany Miller (hip-hop and West African), middle school performing arts teacher Jason Reiff (theater), and Edwards, who will be working on contemporary pieces.

“Every day is a serious rehearsal moving us toward the performance,” Edwards explained. “Each choreographer sees the students only once a week for two hours, so each and every rehearsal moves us toward the end goal!”

Edwards said, “The dancers are enthusiastic and learning new material quickly” and can’t wait to showcase it at the fall dance concerts on November 14 and 15. “I’m happy to be presenting some new styles, both for the dancers and for the audience, including various takes on contemporary, as well as West African, old school hip-hop and theater dance.”