MELISSA M. YOUNG JOINS DANCE DATA PROJECT’S ADVISORY COUNCIL

Northfield, IL | April 14, 2025 | Dance Data Project® (DDP) is excited to announce Melissa M. Young, a distinguished dance leader and educator, is joining its Advisory Council. With over three decades of experience in the dance industry, Young’s exceptional career spans across leadership, performance, education, and advocacy, making her an invaluable addition to the organization’s efforts to advance gender equity in the dance world.

A Honduran American from Santa Ana, California, Melissa’s career began at The Ailey School in New York City before she spent 30 years at Dallas Black Dance Theatre (DBDT), where she served in several leadership positions, including Artistic Director from 2018 to 2024. During her tenure, she commissioned over 30 choreographers and developed collaborations with artists worldwide. Ms. Young has performed at both The Kennedy Center and Lincoln Center. She represented the U.S. at the Cultural Olympiad, performing at the 1996 and 2012 Summer Olympics.

As an educator, Melissa has taught the Lester Horton Dance Technique for over two decades and has held faculty positions at Southern Methodist University, Texas Woman’s University, and Abilene Christian University. She is an active advocate for arts leadership, with certifications in leadership and management, and has received numerous accolades, including the Shining Star Award and the We Speak Your Name Career Achievement Award. Today, Melissa continues to inspire the next generation of dancers and arts leaders through her work as a consultant and educator.

Melissa shared, “I am honored and thrilled to join DDP’s Advisory Council. Their commitment to educating stakeholders and providing a transformative roadmap for institutional growth represents a powerful model for positive systemic change. I look forward to contributing meaningfully alongside my distinguished colleagues as we work to shift perspectives and broaden awareness across the dance landscape.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​”

DDP President and Founder, Elizabeth ‘Liza’ Yntema, commented, “Melissa embodies so much of what I admire in women and in dance – a person of the strongest ethics, she is always “glass half full,” diplomatic, whip smart, and just plain fun. Melissa adds expertise and lived experience on both the administrative and artistic sides, as well as an incredible network. Ms. Young is eager to embrace change and big ideas to make the dance world better and more interesting. We are so lucky to have her!”