Melissa Mooney
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Dance and Music Theatre  Instructor

Melissa Mooney has been performing and teaching theatre and dance for over 25 years. She is a graduate of Caldwell College with a BA in English and Education. She holds her NJ teaching certificates in Elementary Education and Middle School Language Arts. She currently teaches at the Prek level at CCNS in Short Hills NJ.Melissa also attended and completed the first year program at The Neighborhood Playhouse School of Theatre in NYC where she studied the Meisner Technique. She also took vocal lessons with Ron Shetler in NYC. 
She has been dancing and training since she was a child studying with many esteemed teachers including conventions at Tremaine and NJ ballet, and more recently the Dance Teacher Summit taking class with Mia Micheals and Tony Dovoloni. She has auditioned in and around NJ, NYC and was a professional actor in the now closed Evergreen Theatre with Palame Enterprises. She is trained in ballet, jazz, tap, lyrical, hiphop, vocal and musical theatre. 
She has performed throughout NJ in numerous dance shows, competitions and Musical Theatre productions. Most recently as Glinda in TNDs production of The Wizard of Oz, at the Bickford Theatre in Morristown NJ. 
Melissa has taught at many dance schools and public schools as a choreographer, director, and teacher all around NJ. She has Choreographed many musical productions. Melissa choreographed and danced in a pre-show production number at Madison Square Garden for the Knicks and worked as the head of Star camp in Montclair NJ. She was the dance coach for West Essex Middle School dance team for four years. She is a new Judge for That’s Entertainment PA competition, and has been hired to judge for Legacy Competition. 
Melissa is the founder and director of Theatre Next Door, a triple threat studio for children. Training the whole performer. The studio has won many awards under her direction at regional competitions, including best choreography award in 2018, Showmanship award, as well as  sportsmanship award. Most recently her studio won best debut dance studio in 2021.