About

Hi, my name is Melissa Smolka. I’m a German dancer, dance teacher and pilates instructor based in Dresden.

I was born and raised in Ulm in the south of Germany. A smaller city, I didn’t have the opportunity to start a professional dance education right away. After I finished my a-levels in 2013 I moved to Stuttgart to study at the Minkov Dance Academy Winnenden and the Professional Dance Academy (PDA) Stuttgart. Attending private schools, i had the opportunity to study under notable teachers in the commercial, urban and jazz scene like Hoang Le Ung (LUH), Poppinhood, Jimmie Surles, Karen D. Savage, Andrew Hunt and Juanjo Hinojosa who had a huge impact on the development of my own style.

After graduating with a diploma as a dancer, dance teacher and choreographer I moved to Dresden. An avid teacher, i have now been teaching classes in jazz, urban and commercial styles for many years. It is my goal to teach not only technique but also inspire confidence and encourage my students to express their emotions and feelings through dance.

A long-time Pilates enthusiast, I received my Pilates certification (Q2 level) from the Akademie für Sport und Gesundheit in Leipzig in October 2018. In Pilates, I really appreciate the focus on mindful breathing and deep muscle activation. I believe that you can only be a good dancer and teacher, if you know how to treat your body well and control your movement with your breath. This is especially true for dancers in order to prevent injuries.