130LaTeisha Melvin, known as “Toosh” (Baltimore, MD) began her formal dance training at the Baltimore School for the Arts TWIGS program and highschool, under the direction of Norma Pera. After years of training, she graduated with recognition and multiple scholarships including; the Hutzler’s prize, the Joan G & Joseph Klein Jr. scholarship and the Virginia Commonwealth University 4-year Departmental scholarship award; where she went on to receive her B.F.A. in Dance and Choreography. Rigorous studies in Ballet, Pointe, Modern and Jazz over the summers and winters included the American Academy of Ballet in Purchase NY, Johns Hopkins Peabody Conservatory in Baltimore MD, American Dance Festival in Durham NC. and the Houston Metropolitan Dance Theatre in Houston TX.
Notably, in 2011, LaTeisha earned a gold medal for “Dance and Choreography” at the NAACP Act-So competition that was later competed in LA. In 2017 LaTeisha was inducted into the “So You Think You Can Dance” Excel in Motion Dance Convention honor society as well as being awarded a partial scholarship and 6 honorable mentions. In 2018 she took it a step further and appeared on the FOX TV show SYTYCD season 15 as a gold ticket recipient and TOP 70 contestant. LaTeisha later competed at the infamous Apollo Theatre Amateur night competition in New York where she placed 4th, as well as participating in various residencies including with Sinclair Dance Company at the Kennedy Center.
As a choreographer, LaTeisha has presented her work at the Gonda Theatre, Motor House, Youth America Grand Prix, Baltimore Theatre Project, Grace Street Theatre and more. As a performer she has danced works by: Nathan Trice, Christian von Howard, Johnnie Mercer, “We Are Artists, Ashani Ballet, “UNUM Dance Collective”, Sinclair Dance Company, Vaught Contemporary Ballet, ” RAW ARTS”; along with being a featured dancer at the MGM ” The Giz”, as well as local rappers TateKo Bang , Starzz and TT the Artists from the DMV community.
After graduating college and starting her career as a freelance artist; currently as a mobile teacher, LaTeisha engages with students through elements of composition, technique, dance history, choreography and dialogue. She is a former guest artist and choreographer at Georgetown University and Coppin State University as well as current faculty at Maryland School of Dance, Susan Ina dancestudio, and City Dance DREAM. In addition, LaTeisha commutes throughout the DMV area to teach various studios, master classes, judge auditions and even offers private lessons from her home studio. Ms. LaTeisha joins BSA as one of our Modern instructors.
