Melinda Atwood
She graduated of Wheaton College in Norton, Massachusetts with a degree in philosophy , and has served on the board of directors for the Self Family Arts Center, Juggernaut Theater Company, The Elizabeth Foundation and the Stage Directors and Choreographers Foundation, where she served as vice president for four years. She currently serves on the board of the New York Music Festival.
Melinda started her career in musical theatre, first as a dancer and then a choreographer. She was awarded "The Best of Boston" Award for Choreography for her “High Hot Moons” for Boston’s PBS station WGBH. She later directed and produced an original musical adaptation of Loves Labors Lost at the Hasty Pudding Club in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Taking a break from the theatre, Melinda moved to Africa for six years where she ran an indigenous carpet-making business that employed over 40 people. Melinda’s passion for the people of Kenya led her to fund several critically important projects, including the preservation of endangered Rhinos and the protection of working farmlands that local populations relied upon for subsistence — an initiative that was recognized by the region’s British High Commission.
Melinda also funded the construction of several primary schools in some extremely rural communities. Since the schools were built on privately owned land on Lewa Downs and were not government-run, they were able to afford local children a free education, which was unheard of in Kenya at that time. In addition, Melinda created scholarship funds to ensure that the top grade-earner from each school would have the chance to attend secondary school. Since 1992, nearly 500 students have taken advantage of this opportunity with many going on to attend college.
These and many of her other extraordinary adventures were chronicled in Melinda’s book, Jambo Mama now in its third printing.
After returning from Africa, Melinda worked as an intern in The Manhattan Theater Club’s (MTC) Musical Theater Program. While working on the development of new new musicals, Melinda became aware that there were no programs anywhere in the country for the development and promotion of new musical theater choreographers.
Coincidentally, while working at MTC on Captains Courageous, Melinda met choreographer Jerry Mitchell. Together, they talked of their desires to support and advance the careers of emerging choreographers. An idea was born.
With her staunch direction and tenacious dedication, Melinda designed, nurtured and finally presented, with SDCF, the first DanceBreak in 2002.
Melinda has also produced three all danced through musicals for NYMF, Common Grounds, Platforms, and Wild About Harry all choreographed by DanceBreak Alumni.
The unprecedented success of DanceBreak ( in 2010 there will be 11 Broadway shows choreographed by DanceBreak Alumni) and the opportunity to help propel the careers of so many gifted young choreographers has been an amazing journey and one that Melinda hopes to see continue to grow and flourish in the future.
Photo: Guy Powers
