Melanie Hamrick is born in Williamsburg, Virginia, began her training at Chamber Ballet and continued her training with Sandra Balestracci at the Eastern Virginia School of the Performing Arts. She was a scholarship student for five years at the University Ballet Academy (formerly known as the Kirov Academy of Ballet) where she studied with Alla Sizova for three years, as well as Nicolai Morozov and Adrienne Dellas. She has performed the wedding pas de deux and the Bluebird pas de deux from The Sleeping Beauty and the grand pas de deux from The Nutcracker.
Hamrick attended the summer program at the School of American Ballet for three years and attended ABT’s Summer Intensive Program in 2003.
Hamrick joined ABT Studio Company in September 2003 and the main Company as a member of the corps de ballet in April 2004. Her roles include Calliope in Apollo, lead D’Jampe, a Shade and Pas d’Action in La Bayadère, the Fairy Winter in Cinderella, Prayer in Coppélia, an Odalisque in Le Corsaire, a Flower Girl in Don Quixote, Moyna in Giselle, Caroline in Jardin aux Lilas, Olympia in Lady of the Camellias, the Spanish Dance in The Nutcracker, a Harlot in Romeo and Juliet, Candide (Sincerity) in Ratmansky’s The Sleeping Beauty, the Fairy of Sincerity in The Sleeping Beauty, a big swan, the pas de trois and the Spanish Dance in Swan Lake, the Prelude and Mazurka in Les Sylphides, Diana and Terpsichore in Sylvia and roles in After You, Dark Elegies, Duets, Everything Doesn’t Happen at Once, From Here On Out, Gong and Raymonda Divertissements. She created the role of one of the Nutcracker’s Sisters in Alexei Ratmansky’s The Nutcracker, the Sapphire Fairy in Ratmansky’s The Sleeping Beauty and roles in AfterEffect and Private Light.
Women Fitness President Ms. Namita Nayyar catches up with an exceptionally talented Melanie Hamrick, an American ballet dancer talks about her workout, diet, beauty secrets and success story.
Namita Nayyar:
You are well recognized for your work with the ballet group ‘American Ballet Theatre’. Share some special moments from your spectacular journey and how it began
Melanie Hamrick:
There are so many special memories it’s hard to narrow them down! From a seven year old deciding I wanted to commit my life to ballet to now the special feeling of choreographing and seeing it come to life on different stages around the world.
Namita Nayyar:
A couple of special moments
Melanie Hamrick:
I will always remember the first time I stepped onstage at the Metropolitan Opera House at Lincoln centre; it was such a spectacular feeling. The sheer size of the stage and looking out into the audience took my breath away. It’s one of the biggest opera house stages in the world.
Preparing for one of my first principal roles, Jardin aux Lilas (Lilac Garden). Absorbing oneself in something so completely that I truly felt I could bring the audience into my world.
It was like the most perfect dream from the first day in the studio learning the first steps to the applause and curtain coming down on the performance. It’s one of my favorite memories of my career.
Namita Nayyar:
Introduce us to a day in your life. With your family on one side and your passion for others.
Melanie Hamrick:
Life has definitely changed a lot in the past year! Pre- pandemic I would wake early to take my son to pre-school then head to a full day of rehearsals. I’d run home after rehearsal to be with Dev and then either head back to the theatre for a show or get to stay and spend time with my son. Life now is much different and I’m so thankful for the time I’ve been able to spend with my family.
I’ve also discovered new passions and talents. I was able to produce creative direct and choreograph a little which are all things that are very new for me. When my work partners, Joanna DeFelice and Christine Shevchenko and I created our show ‘A NIGHT AT THE BALLET’ I loved the feeling of giving jobs to dancers, film and stage crews that have been out of work. And now I’m busy developing an amazing new dance show that I can’t wait to share!
Namita Nayyar:
What exercises comprise your fitness regime or workout routine that you may like to share? Exercise routine you incorporated to shed that baby weight after giving birth to your son.
Melanie Hamrick:
I love to work out! The endorphins released keep my mind and body happy and healthy. I constantly switch it up so different parts of the body are used. Besides working with my trainer Joel Prouty, I like to do cardio. I also love Cryotherapy. After I had my son I couldn’t exercise for a bit however I could do Cryotherapy and it was amazing for blood circulation and fighting postpartum.
Full Interview is Continued on Next Page
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