LIFT: A Documentary

Named as the Artistic Director of New York Theatre Ballet in April of 2022, Steven Melendez was born in New York City in 1986 and started his ballet training with the LIFT Program at Ballet School New York at the age of 7. He has danced as a Soloist dancer with Ballet Concierto in Buenos Aires, Argentina, a Principal dancer with The Vanemuine Theater Ballet Company in Tartu, Estonia, and for over 15 years with New York Theatre Ballet. He is a national and international guest artist and teacher and has worked across Europe, Asia, and Central and South America. Steven co-choreographed his first large-scale work, Song Before Spring, for New York Theatre Ballet which was named a Dance Europe critic's choice “Best Premiere” of 2016. Steven is currently a member of the alumni advisory committee on diversity and inclusion for School of American Ballet and serves as the Hiland Artistic Director for National Dance Institute New Mexico.

Kristin Talley is currently a working dance teacher, actor, singer, dancer and props designer. In 2019, she graduated from Young Harris College with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Musical Theatre and a minor in history. After graduating, she became a member of the Aurora Theatre’s AppCo’20. A few of her recent shows with the Aurora Theatre include Sister Act (ens/dance captain), Mary Poppins (ens/asst dance captain), Cinderella (swing), On Your Feet (ens), and Christmas Canteen 2019 (featured ens). She is also a principal dancer in the 2-time Emmy award winning Netflix movie, Dolly Parton’s: Christmas on the Square. Kristin currently works as a dance teacher and the dance company director at Lilburn Dance Academy in Lilburn, GA where she teaches students 6-18 jazz, lyrical, and tap.

Angela Harris is the Executive Artistic Director of Dance Canvas, Inc., a career development  organization for emerging professional choreographers and youth. Angela conceived and founded Dance Canvas after witnessing the difficult path and lack of professional opportunities for young choreographers. Additionally, Dance Canvas was envisioned to create relatable professional dance experiences and new dance patrons in the Atlanta area. In six seasons, Dance Canvas has presented World Premier  choreography from 150 emerging professional   choreographers, showcased  over 200 professional dancers, introduced over 1000 children and teens to dance through the DC NEXT youth program curriculum, and performed for over 25,000 audience members.  Angela  has developed  youth  dance/career development  programs for the City of Atlanta's  Office of Cultural Affairs  (Culture  Club and ArtsCool), recording  artist, Usher's New  Look Foundation,  and the Tupac Amaru  Shakur Foundation.  She has forged partnerships  with the Atlanta  Ballet, Atlantic  Station, Rialto Center  for the Arts, the French  Consulate  of Atlanta,  National Black Arts  Festival  & Kennesaw  State University.  As a Director and through Dance Canvas, Angela has been a catalyst, consultant, and resource for numerous new dance organizations and artists. Angela has developed programs for the City of Atlanta's Office of Cultural Affairs, Recording artist, Usher's New Look Foundation, and the Tupac Amaru Shakur Foundation. Angela served on the national Emerging Leaders Council for Americans for the Arts and was a member of the 2014 class of Arts Leaders of Metro Atlanta. She received the National Emerging Leader Award from Americans for the Arts and American Express and was a 2021 Women in the Arts and Business Honoree through Synchronicity Theater.Artistically, Angela is a Choreographer, Dancer and Creative Director. Angela is originally from Baltimore, MD and a graduate of The Baltimore School for the Arts. She trained at Dance Theater of Harlem, School of the Hartford Ballet & Eglevsky Ballet. She attended Mercyhurst College and City College of New York, earning a B.A. in Journalism, while dancing on a full ballet scholarship at Steps on Broadway in NYC. Angela performed soloist and principal roles with The Georgia Ballet (GA), Columbia City Ballet (SC) and Urban Ballet Theater (NYC). Her professional theater performance credits include 'Chicago' (Lipchitz), 'A Chorus Line' (Kristine DeLuca), 'Hunchback of Notre Dame', 'Annie Get Your Gun' and 'Camelot' at the Aurora Theatre and 'Sophisticated Ladies' and 'Degas Little Dancer' at the Tony Award-winning Alliance Theatre. Additionally, she was a soloist dancer for Jasmine Guy's production of 'Daughters of Alpha' in New Orleans, LA and a principal dancer in Dimension Films, 'Scary Movie V'. As a choreographer, Angela has created work for companies and academies, including The Georgia Ballet, Steps on Broadway, Spelman College, Ballet Lubbock and Oklahoma Summer Arts Institute. Her theater choreographic credits include the Southeastern premiere of Andrew Lloyd Webber's 'Song & Dance' (Aurora Theatre); 110 in the Shade (Theatrical Outfit); Frankenstein's Funeral (Found Stage); The First Noel (True Colors Theater Company); Bridges of Madison County (Aurora Theatre). Angela was one of five Inaugural National Visiting Fellows at the School of American Ballet. In 2016, she received a SDCF Observership and worked with Tony Award winning director/choreographer, Susan Stroman, on the new musical, Little Dancer, during its Broadway Lab. Most recently, Angela was recognized with the 2022 Suzi Bass Award for Outstanding Choreography for her work on 'Song & Dance' at the Aurora Theatre. Angela is currently on faculty at Emory University, Spelman College, Brenau University and is a ballet instructor at Dekalb School for the Arts & Academy of Ballet.