Director / Owner

Melinda Neal, Bay Area native and former soloist, began her early ballet training under Yanina Cwyinska, who trained at Russia’s prestigious Vaganova Academy of Russian Ballet. She continued her studies with Ronn Guidi, founder of the Oakland Ballet Academy and Company, whose mentorship deeply shaped her artistic foundation. Melinda later earned her BA in Performing Arts through St. Mary’s College of California’s LEAP program for professional dancers and is currently pursuing her Master of Arts in Dance at St. Mary’s College of California. She is also a certified Pilates Instructor.

Melinda danced professionally for 16 years, performing with companies including Oakland Ballet Company, Peninsula Ballet Theatre, and as a founding member and Soloist with both Napoles Ballet Theatre and Bay Pointe Ballet. She has also appeared as a guest artist with California Youth Ballet and Milissa Payne Project, performing an extensive repertory of classical and contemporary works as both a Soloist and corps member.

Beyond her performance career, Melinda co-owned The Dance Network for nine years, serving as Artistic Director for their non-profit youth ballet company. She has held leadership roles as Children’s Ballet Mistress for State Street Ballet, Peninsula Ballet Theatre, and Bay Pointe Ballet.

With over 27 years of teaching experience throughout the Bay Area, Melinda has taught at respected institutions including Alonzo King LINES Dance Center, Alameda Civic Ballet, ODC Dance, SF Arts Education Project, Peninsula Ballet Conservatory, Bay Pointe Ballet, and served as Ballet Director at Roco Dance in Mill Valley.

Her students have been accepted into prestigious programs such as San Francisco Ballet, Boston Ballet, Alonzo King LINES, Alvin Ailey, Rock School of Ballet, Joffrey Ballet, Miami City Ballet, Dance Theatre of Harlem, School of American Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, Bolshoi Ballet, Pacific Northwest Ballet Pre- Professional Trainee, State Street Ballet Trainee, and academic programs such as UCLA, Fordham University, NYU Tisch School of the Arts, and SMU Dance Department.

Melinda is deeply committed to training the next generation of dancers—nurturing not only their technical development but also their physical, emotional, and mental well-being. Her teaching embodies tradition with creativity, artistry, discipline, and individuality, offering students a fresh and inspiring approach to ballet.  

For inquiries please email- Melinda@marinconservatoryofdance.org