Director / Owner

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Melinda Neal, a Bay Area Native, received her early ballet training from Yanina Cwyinska, who trained at Russia's renowned Vaganova Academy of Russian Ballet. She was privileged to further her training under the tutelage of Ronn Guidi, founder of Oakland Ballet Academy and Company. Later on, she earned her BA in performing arts from St. Mary's College of California LEAP program for professional dancers. She is also a certified Pilates Instructor. Melinda danced professionally for 16 years with companies such as Oakland Ballet Company, Peninsula Ballet Theatre, was a founding member and Soloist with Napoles Ballet Theatre and Bay Pointe Ballet. She has also guested with California Youth Ballet and Milissa Payne Project. Melinda danced many classical and contemporary roles as a Soloist and corps member. As well as co-owned "The Dance Network" for nine years and was the Artistic Director for their Non-Profit youth ballet company. In addition, she's served as Children's Ballet Mistress for State Street Ballet, Peninsula Ballet Theatre, and Bay Pointe Ballet. Melinda has taught in the Bay Area for 23 years with various schools, including Alonzo King Lines Dance Center, Alameda Civic Ballet, ODC Dance, SF Arts Education Project, Peninsula Ballet Conservatory, Bay Pointe Ballet, as well as served as Ballet Director and teacher at Roco Dance in Mill Valley. Her students have gone onto prestigious ballet schools, major dance programs, summer intensives, and colleges such as San Francisco Ballet, Alonzo King Lines Training Program, Alvin Ailey Training Program, Rock School of Ballet, Joffrey Ballet, Miami City Ballet, Dance Theatre of Harlem, School of American Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, Bolshoi Ballet, UCLA, Fordham University, and NYU Tisch School of the Arts. She has a passion and love for training future generations, focusing on the dancer's physical, emotional, and mental health. This passion and love for the Arts instill a fresh outlook on ballet, passion, creativity, discipline, and individuality in her students.  

For inquiries please email- Melinda@marinconservatoryofdance.org