Melissa Allen Bowman began ballet at six with Lois Ellyn and later trained with Stanley Holden and Margaret Graham Hills. At fifteen, she joined American Ballet Theatre’s corps de ballet, dancing for seven years while founding the Emerson Dance Theatre. She performed in ABT’s *Great Performances in America* from 1981 to 1988.

In 1988, Bowman moved to Europe, joining Bern Ballet ... more

Melissa Allen Bowman began ballet at six with Lois Ellyn and later trained with Stanley Holden and Margaret Graham Hills. At fifteen, she joined American Ballet Theatre’s corps de ballet, dancing for seven years while founding the Emerson Dance Theatre. She performed in ABT’s *Great Performances in America* from 1981 to 1988.

In 1988, Bowman moved to Europe, joining Bern Ballet and Zurich Ballet under Uwe Scholz. In 1990, she followed Scholz to Leipzig, Germany, becoming a Soloist and Associate Director. She performed principal roles in *Sleeping Beauty, Romeo and Juliet, Swan Lake,* and *La Bayadère.*

Returning to the U.S. in 1999, she joined Pittsburgh Youth Ballet, becoming Associate Director and resident choreographer. In 2004, she co-founded Danse Conservatory and California Danse Theatre Youth Ballet. She taught at ABT’s Summer Intensive from 2003, later becoming its Artistic Director.

Bowman advised ABT’s National Training Curriculum and was Assistant Principal of the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School and Director of the Children’s Division. She later served as Academy Director and Curriculum Director at Houston Ballet.

Now in Bozeman with her family, Bowman is excited to lead MBC. She is an ABT® Certified Teacher, trained in the ABT® National Training Curriculum through Level 7. less