Melanie Montalto Ryan is a former professional ballet dancer who began her training in New Orleans at Giacobbe Academy of Dance. She has been awarded trainee scholarships to American Ballet Theatre and Alvin Ailey before accepting a traineeship for the Harkness Ballet in New York under Ballet Master David Howard.

Upon returning  to New Orleans as a Principal dancer with Delta Festival Ballet she has performed solo roles in Sleeping Beauty as the Fairy of the Golden Vine and Pas de Trois, Swan Lake Pas de Trois, Lucille Grahn in Pas de Quatre, Les Sylphide, Songs of a Wayfarer, Graduation Ball, Raymonda Pas de Dix, Variations from Day to Day and many more. She was a guest performer in Ellen Hardemen’s Nurcracker as the Sugar Plum Fairy and her recreation of George Balanchine’s Who Cares. In 1976 Dance Magazine praised her performances in Sleeping Beauty in New Orleans and Songs of a Wayfarer at Southwest Regional Ballet Festival in Austin Texas.

Melanie has taught ballet for over 30 years at such prestigious schools as Giacobbe Academy of Dance and Schramel Conservatory. She is the former Director of NOBT Pre Professional Day Program and Ballet Mistress for Young Artist Master Classes in Lafayette and she is presently Artist in Residence for Jean Leigh Dance Academy in Denham Springs.

Many of her former students are now performing with professional companies. She is looking forward to working with the students at NOCCA and passing on her love for ballet.