PERFORMING ARTS
BIO
Melani Drummer is a choreographer, dancer, singer, actress, voice over artist originally from beautiful South Africa. She began her dance training at an early age and continued when she went on to study Musical Theatre at the Pretoria Technikon. Melani is trained in Ballet, Tap, Modern, Spanish, Scottish, Contemporary, Jazz and African Dance. Upon leaving school, she obtained her A.I.D.T Associates in Tap Dance and Hip Hop. After working in Eqypt as a singer, Melani appeared in many professional musicals in South Africa and abroad, including the world tour of Cats (original cast), Fame, Evita and the SA/European tour of Showboat (which she also choreographed). In the USA she has appeared in Into the Woods (Jack’s Mother), Anything Goes (Reno), 42nd Street (Dorothy Brock), Annie (Miss Hannigan), A Chorus Line (Cassie) and Mamma Mia! (Donna). It was while working on Showboat that Melani met her husband, Brad. They now live in the Atlanta, GA area, with their 4 incredible children, Caleb, Luke, Callaway and Cassidy. In addition to her stage work, Melani has been teaching Musical Theater Dance and Tap for over 20 years. Her reputation as a dance instructor earned her a guest appearance at the International Tap Day in South Africa and an invitation to be a guest instructor at the International Tap Day in Washington DC. Melani works as a freelance choreographer and master class teacher for various dance/performing arts companies and high schools in the DMV area and internationally. Her favourite choreographic endevours are Anything Goes, Jesus Christ Superstar, Showboat, On the Town, My Fair Lady.
VIDEO
I Get a Kick Out of You - Anything Goes
RESUME
Professional Experience
Actress, Singer, Dancer, Choreographer, Dance Teacher, Voice Over Artist, Worship Leader,Producer
Vocal Range: Alto/Mezzo Soprano (D3 to G5), Top Belt: Eb5
Hair: Blonde - Eyes: Blue
OWNER/CO-FOUNDER
Panacean Arts LLC
January 2022 - Present
STUDIO MANAGER
Fusion Dance Company
August 2023 - Present
OWNER
Nusta Spa
LEED Gold Certified Day Spa
January 2018 - October 2021
THEATER
MAMMA MIA - Donna - Way Off Broadway
A CHORUS LINE - Cassie - Fredericktowne Players
MY FAIR LADY - Choreographer - Way Off Broadway
ANNIE - Miss Hannigan - Way Off Broadway
ANYTHING GOES - Reno Sweeney - Rockville Musical Theater
ON THE TOWN - Choreographer - Walt Whitman High School
42ND STREET - Dorothy Brock - Sterling Players
INTO THE WOODS - Jack's Mother - Way Off Broadway
JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR - Choreographer - Walt Whitman High School
ANYTHING GOES - Reno Sweeney - Way Off Broadway
CATCH ME IF YOU CAN - Choreographer - Walt Whitman High School
ANYTHING GOES - Choreographer - Walt Whitman High School
SHOWBOAT - Understudy/performed Julie, Dance Captain, Choreographer - Cape Town Opera South Africa/European Tour
FAME THE MUSICAL - Understudy/performed Miss Sherman, Miss Bell, Lambchops, Mable - Showtime Management South African Tour
CATS (World Tour) - Olivia, Understudy/performed Bombalurina, Demeter, Jennyanydots - Really Useful Group (Original Cast)
EVITA - Principal Dancer - Artscape
MUSIC REVIEW/CABARET - Lead Singer - Cairo, Egypt Sheraton Hotel
WORSHIP LEADER/CREATIVE ARTS DIRECTOR/
PRODUCER
Highlands Church (GA, USA)
Mountain View Community Church (MD, USA)
Covenant Life Church (MD, USA)
Christ Church on Embassy Row (Washington, DC USA)
Camps Bay United Church (Cape Town, SOUTH AFRICA)
TEACHING
Tap, Ballet, Jazz, Musical Theater - Fusion Dance Company
Tap - Rhythmworks Dance Studio - SA
Broadway Song & Dance - Imagination Stage
Tap - Imagination Stage
Musical Theater - Imagination Stage
Inclusive Musical Theater - Imagination Stage
Tap - Take the Stage Performance Company
Tap, African Gumboot - VF Dance Theater
Musical Theater, Tap - Teen Angel Project
Tap Master Class - Various Dance Companies - Internationally
Tap - International Tap Day
TRAINING
Musical Theatre – Pretoria Technikon, South Africa Dance Training: Advanced Tap, Modern, Ballet, Hip Hop, Spanish, Jazz, Contemporary, African, Highland
A.I.D.T.Certified Tap Teacher
A.I.D.T.Certified Hip Hop Teacher
SPECIAL SKILLS
Choreographer, Dance Teacher, Master Class Instructor, 20+ years international VO experience - access to studio Dialects: South African, Proper English, Cockney, Australian, Standard American, Southern American, MC/Event Host for Corporate Industrials, Worship Leader, Lead vocalist on 2 Contemporary Christian Albums, Vocal Coach, Web design and maintenance, Microsoft Office Suite, Quickbooks, Sports: Softball, Volleyball, U.S. Passport
AWARDS AND NOMINATIONS
Broadway World USA - Best Actress in a Musical
Reno - Anything Goes, Miss Hannigan - Annie, Cassie - A Chorus Line, Donna - Mamma Mia
Numerous Dance & Choreographic awards
VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE
Blessings in a Backpack - Co-Ordinator and Stewardship
Mountain View Community Church - Small Group Leader, Operation Christmas Child Outreach
Highlands Church - Worship and Production Dream Team Captain, Small Group Leader, DEFACS Team
Africa Jam - Worship Leader, Teacher
PTA President
High School Basketball Booster Club President