Melanie Aceto & Joe Thomas
 Melanie Aceto |
| Melanie Aceto
is a modern dancer and choreographer who earned her
Master of Fine Arts degree in dance from New York
University's Tisch School of the Arts. Melanie’s work
has been performed internationally in Guatemala,
Toronto, and Germany and nationally in Las Vegas,
Virginia, Kentucky, Florida, Ohio, venues in Upstate NY
and numerous festivals in New York City. Melanie’s
work was showcased in this summer’s Inside/Out series at
the internationally renowned Jacob’s Pillow Dance
Festival in Becket, MA. She has worked with contemporary
composers Marc Mellits, Ping Jin, Evan Johnson, Tom
Stoll and extensively with contemporary composer Mark
Olivieri on projects including the ImageMovementSound
festival, the Heidelberg New Music Festival and
co-directing the Vision of Sound Concert of Live Music
and Dance; a series of collaborative concerts featuring
original contemporary music and choreography, now in its
fifth season performing throughout upstate NY. Melanie
has worked with New York based contemporary
choreographers including Monica Bill Barnes, Barry
Blumenfeld, Ellis Wood, Hilary Easton and Guta Hedewig
and currently performs with Jim Hansen’s Assemblage
Dance based in Rochester, NY. She has studied
modern dance with Jonette Lancos, Gwen Welliver, Doug
Varone, Gus Solomons and Sean Curran among others. Melanie’s research interests include investigating models for teaching dance composition and modern technique. She was a 2007 Research Fellow at Jacob’s Pillow International Dance Festival investigating choreographic components of master works and is currently writing a four level modern technique curriculum for Dance Masters of America. Melanie is a certified Pliates Mat instructor and is currently an Assistant Professor at the University at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York teaching modern technique, composition, contemporary partnering and improvisation. |
 Joe Thomas |
|
Joseph Thomas has been playing the
drums in bands, school ensembles, church groups, and
musicals for over 16 years. He has studied with
James Torrey, Donald Lyle, and Aaron Reinard among
others. Joe began playing for Melanie in 2008 and has
enjoyed accompanying dance ever since. In
addition to dance classes, his jazz trio, and some
freelance playing, he has also worked as a drum set
teacher and assistant marching percussion instructor.
He will graduate from the University at Buffalo with a
degree in Biomedical Sciences and go on to UB Medical
School.
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