Meet Melissa Zoebisch | Artistic Director of Denver Ballet Theatre Academy & Demisoloist at Colorado Ballet

We had the good fortune of connecting with Melissa Zoebisch and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Melissa, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
I think one pursues an artistic career because it is something you have to start a very young age, so it becomes an intricate and indivisible part of your life. It almost as if your life becomes that career, and for me it was a very natural transition from my forming years into a professional setting.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I am a ballet dancer and teacher. I have been fortunate enough to have had a successful career in dancing thanks to great teachers I’ve had, and to the support of my family. This is not a common trade people go into, and many don’t think it’s feasible. After a few years of dancing professionally I also started to teach, and this only further deepened my love and admiration for this art form, I was able to delve into the other side of things and I continue to learn. I started ballet at the age of 10, and decided at the age of 13 that this is what I wanted to pursue in my life. To become a ballet dancer you have to be extremely disciplined and willing to make “sacrifices” (they never felt like sacrifices to me). When I was in high school I was never invited to social events/gatherings because my answer would always be no, since I was always in class and/or rehearsals. Being organized and on top of school work was paramount to be able to sustain my schedule. I would go straight from school to a private lesson, then home to eat, and on to my other classes and rehearsals; often times I wouldn’t have a day off. Fortunately the disciple ballet has taught me helped me through those formative years.
I can’t imagine my life without ballet, which is why teaching, nurturing and growing the next generation of dancers feels natural. I really strive to transmit my love and appreciation of ballet to my students, make them understand that it is so much more than just the technical elements, and most importantly that all the lessons they learn in a ballet class are relevant and can be translated to the “outside world”.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Restaurants: North Italia, Esters, Machete, Crepes n’ Crepes, Jerusalem I would take them to the Denver Art Museum, Botanical Gardens
Hang out at Wash Park

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My mom, and my teachers Ely Torres and Lucy Arce.

Website: www.denverballettheatre.org

Instagram: @denver.ballet.theatre

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DenverBalletTheatreAcademy

Image Credits
Alexandru Glushacov Francisco Estevez