Photo by Lindsay Browning
The Philadelphia Youth Dance Fest unites talented and aspiring dancers by offering them an experience that will enrich and inspire their craft through the celebration and performance of dance. The festival acts as an opportunity to expose local audience members to the young dance community, building support for young dancers as they continue to pursue dance professionally.
The participants are given the opportunity to take Master Classes from local Philadelphia based teachers, exposing the students to different world dance genres and broadening their knowledge of dance culture.
It is an occasion that will allow them an opportunity to learn from their peers, unite through dance, and gain a sense of community.
Currently in our fifth year, the festival has brought together over 200 students in companies from Philadelphia and its suburbs, Butler, PA, Harrisburg PA, Reading PA, Wilmington and Dover, Delaware, New Jersey, and New York. Many genres are presented including Ballet, Contemporary, Character Dance, Modern, Jazz, Musical Theater, Classical Indian Dance, Tap, and Hip-Hop.
Past sold out shows have been held at The Painted Bride Arts Center and The Arts Bank at University of the Arts.
In addition to performing, the students participate in various master classes held at as part of the learning experience. Classes have been given in Contemporary, Ballroom, African, Funk, and Flamenco. The goal of the classes is to expose the students to different dance genres that they might not be exposed to at their studios. The students also are combined with other peers from different studios, establishing new friendships and roll models.
The participants are given the opportunity to take Master Classes from local Philadelphia based teachers, exposing the students to different world dance genres and broadening their knowledge of dance culture.
It is an occasion that will allow them an opportunity to learn from their peers, unite through dance, and gain a sense of community.
Currently in our fifth year, the festival has brought together over 200 students in companies from Philadelphia and its suburbs, Butler, PA, Harrisburg PA, Reading PA, Wilmington and Dover, Delaware, New Jersey, and New York. Many genres are presented including Ballet, Contemporary, Character Dance, Modern, Jazz, Musical Theater, Classical Indian Dance, Tap, and Hip-Hop.
Past sold out shows have been held at The Painted Bride Arts Center and The Arts Bank at University of the Arts.
In addition to performing, the students participate in various master classes held at as part of the learning experience. Classes have been given in Contemporary, Ballroom, African, Funk, and Flamenco. The goal of the classes is to expose the students to different dance genres that they might not be exposed to at their studios. The students also are combined with other peers from different studios, establishing new friendships and roll models.
About the Director/Founder
MELISSA CHISENA-
Melissa Chisena had the privilege of dancing and touring nationally with North Carolina Dance Theatre and The Richmond Ballet. Currently residing in Philadelphia, PA, has danced with Jeanne Ruddy Dance and Tania Isaac Dance. She has performed nationally and internationally at venues such as Bates Dance Festival, Jacob's Pillow, Aaron Davis Hall-Harlem Stage, Dance Place in DC, The Annenberg Center, The Suzanne Roberts Theatre, The Wilma, and numerous colleges throughout the US. Her choreography has been featured at North Carolina Dance Theatre, Richmond Ballet, American Dance Festival, Regional Dance America, Ursinus College, Richard Stockton College, Philadelphia Dance Theatre, Yes! Invitational, Come Together Festival, Grounds for Sculpture and many other venues across the Northeast. She is currently a member of the NADINE Project, a collaborative choreographic company Connecticut, Stone Depot Dance Lab, Beau Hancock, The Naked Stark, Tara Madsen-Robbins, and runs her own company, Chisena Danza. She is the ballet mistress at Philadelphia Dance Theatre and teaches at Temple University, Ursinus College, Bryn Mawr College, Eastern University, Dance Elite, and Janice’s Danceworks. She is the producer of An Evening of Duets, an annual professional show at the Community Education Center and The Philadelphia Youth Dance Fest, an annual youth festival featuring pre-professional companies from Pennsylvania, Delaware and New Jersey.
Melissa Chisena had the privilege of dancing and touring nationally with North Carolina Dance Theatre and The Richmond Ballet. Currently residing in Philadelphia, PA, has danced with Jeanne Ruddy Dance and Tania Isaac Dance. She has performed nationally and internationally at venues such as Bates Dance Festival, Jacob's Pillow, Aaron Davis Hall-Harlem Stage, Dance Place in DC, The Annenberg Center, The Suzanne Roberts Theatre, The Wilma, and numerous colleges throughout the US. Her choreography has been featured at North Carolina Dance Theatre, Richmond Ballet, American Dance Festival, Regional Dance America, Ursinus College, Richard Stockton College, Philadelphia Dance Theatre, Yes! Invitational, Come Together Festival, Grounds for Sculpture and many other venues across the Northeast. She is currently a member of the NADINE Project, a collaborative choreographic company Connecticut, Stone Depot Dance Lab, Beau Hancock, The Naked Stark, Tara Madsen-Robbins, and runs her own company, Chisena Danza. She is the ballet mistress at Philadelphia Dance Theatre and teaches at Temple University, Ursinus College, Bryn Mawr College, Eastern University, Dance Elite, and Janice’s Danceworks. She is the producer of An Evening of Duets, an annual professional show at the Community Education Center and The Philadelphia Youth Dance Fest, an annual youth festival featuring pre-professional companies from Pennsylvania, Delaware and New Jersey.
