Staff

Melissa Oneill

Melissa began dancing at the age of 3 in Dallas, TX when she followed her big sister to dance class, and she hasn’t stopped since.  Her initial training at Melva Smith School of Dance prepared her to take the next step and at the age of 10 she began training and competing with the award winning Performing Company at Dallas Power House of Dance under the direction of Michelle Stafford and Michelle Sherrill.  In 2011 Melissa graduated from Booker T Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts in Dallas and was awarded an artistic scholarship to attend Point Park University in Pittsburgh, PA.  While a student at Point Park, Melissa was chosen to perform original works “AU” by Peter Merz and “Movin” by Keisha Lalama at the Youth American Grand Prix in Philadelphia and New York, as well as the classic “Serenade” by George Balanchine at the historic Byham Concert Theater in Pittsburgh. After spending a summer ministering to campers at Pine Cove in Tyler, TX,  Melissa graduated Cum Laude from Point Park University in December 2014 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts – Ballet Degree and is excited to be in Nashville, sharing her passion for the beauty of the arts at Shalom and her commitment to her faith exhibited through ballet.  When Melissa is not dancing, you might find her cooking, hiking or redecorating a room.