DANCEALATES® creator Melissa Ricci

In 2006 I stepped back into my favorite musical theater dance class in New York City after a 10 year hiatus. Happily, I was once again able to experience a joy and satisfaction that could only come from rhythmically moving my body. However, I noticed something was very different.  I began to feel incredibly grounded and supported in a way I never had before.  I realized that my Pilates training had given me the knowledge and awareness to organize my body in a way that mitigated the long layoff and numerous injuries I had sustained as a professional dancer.  This revelation would soon prompt my husband Matthew and I to develop a group exercise class that would allow individuals of all fitness levels to experience the strengthening, lengthening and toning benefits of a professionally inspired dance class with an increased sense of support from which to move their body.  Welcome to DANCEALATES®, a flowing and energizing workout that blends the core principles of Pilates with the strengthening, lengthening and toning techniques found in traditional jazz and ballet barre workouts.

Bio

As a former professional dancer with over 20 years experience in the fitness industry Melissa has distinguished herself as a leader in Pilates instruction and human movement education. Melissa takes great pride in having dedicated her career studying postural alignment and the correction of movement dysfunctions as it relates to sports performance and activities of daily living.  She is the founder of the DANCEALATES® workout and the DANCEALATES® Primary Instructor Training Program for the health and wellness professional. She is certified by PMA, ACE, AFAA, NASM and the Kane School of Core Integration. Melissa completed the FAMI (Functional Anatomy Movement and Injuries) program through Mt. Sinai Ichan School of Medicine and holds a B.A. from New York University.