Dance lecturer receives prestigious award at CNADM workshop 

Melissa Anderson received the Artistic Achievement Award by the Chicago National Association of Dance Masters | Submitted photo

Melissa Anderson (Lecturer, Dance) has earned the Artistic Achievement Award by the Chicago National Association of Dance Masters, joining a prestigious group of dance educators. 

Anderson received the award during CNADM’s Summer Workshop. During the presentation, a quartet of Danceworks MKE dancers performed a piece dedicated to Anderson and choreographed by Christal Wagner (Lecturer, Dance; Outreach Coordinator, Dance). The piece featured quotes from Anderson’s peers and a snippet from one of Anderson’s signature solos. 

“This beautiful moment of dancers that I’ve known and watched grow are performing to me,” said Anderson. “It was beautiful, and it was the best surprise I could have ever had. It was the most meaningful thing I have ever been through. To have my peers and the people that know me best give me this gift, it was amazing.” 

Anderson said that while she loved her time achieving her dream of being a ballerina, the connection between her and her students has proven more important. 

“You think being an artist, you want the applause and the accolades,” said Anderson. “But when I’m in the audience screaming for those performers, that’s the pinnacle… Those students are the fuller joy.” 

Anderson’s long and successful career as a dancer took her around the world including Reykjavik, Iceland, San Juan, Puerto Rico, and Orlando, Florida. 

Along the way, Anderson trained under a member of Ballet Russes, a 1920s group of Russian immigrants who would eventually bring ballet to the United States.  

“[My students] are part of the Ballet Russes lineage,” said Anderson. “Ballet is passed down from these great people into the teachers of today. I think that’s beautiful and amazing.” 

Throughout Anderson’s teaching career, she has taken a pedagogical approach to ballet that breaks the strict, harsh standards students such as herself experienced, instead seeking to find joy and happiness in dance.  

“I would have dance students come up to me and say, ‘I hate ballet,'” said Anderson. “I’m always pleased when they return to me and share ‘Now, I don’t hate ballet as much.’ It is my mission to make ballet accessible to all dancers and non-dancers. Maybe even make it fun.” 


Story by Jason McCullum ’25