A multidimensional and spiritually rooted artist working towards community and personal elevation.

SoCal native Melani De Guzman is a dance artist, curator, choreographer, and educator based in Brooklyn, NY. She earned her BFA in Sociology and Dance from Loyola Marymount University and received her formal dance training under Karen Mcdonald.

During her collegiate training, Melani performed works by Barak Marshall, Sidra Bell, Danielle Agami, Lillian Barbeito and Rosalynde LeBlanc. Professionally, Melani has worked with Lula Washington Dance Theatre, Gigi Torres, and Daniel Ezralow in Los Angeles. 

Melani is currently a company dancer with Curet Performance Project and Jacqui Dugal and Dance in New York, NY; she also performs solo works around the city in various collaborations with musicians, visual artists and poets. She is a Teaching Artist for Marquis Studios , which allows her to share dance with underprivileged communities in New York. Her love for movement extends globally; Melani facilitates dance programs abroad with Dance2serve, which serves international orphanages. Melani also teaches pilates at Equinox 61st street and Balanced Pilates NYC.

Recent performance credits include Curet Performance Project’s “Isla;” Breton Tyner Bryan’s “Cotton Candy and Cocaine;” Jacqui Dugal’s “Tension of Release;” and Anne Bogart’s “Good Night Pig” production. Melani recently choreographed for the musician Aya Jack on a short film titled “Medusa,” which is a multidisciplinary exploration of sexual assault. Her recent work "Les Saisons en Nous" has been premiering in dance festivals and galleries throughout the city with her musician, Sarah Favinger.

Melani believes it is integral to uplift and unite her community by spreading the love of dance, movement and art. Her mission is to bring eclectic, diverse groups of people together and ignite conversation.

Melani's daily movement research includes contemporary forms of somatic technique, meditation, Pilates, Gaga, ballet, release modern,  flying low, partnering, and physical theater exercises. She is a passionate believer in effective collaborations that can produce positive change within. Melani works from a place of getting inside of ourselves by the use of external forces. Her process includes the use of internal triggers- becoming highly aware of memories and long hidden experiences finally emerging through the motion the body flows through. Melani thrives to create opportunities for people of all ages to experience their most authentic self; moving from a place of their own sacred truth.