Melissa Almaguer (tap dance artist, performer, teacher and choreographer) is one of Mexico’s leading Tap dancers. She started her dance training at an early age in Monterrey, Mexico with Jessica Flores and Marcela Treviño and later on, furthered it by moving to New York City where she began studying with her mentor Derick K Grant.
Melissa is an alumna of The School at Jacob’s Pillow. She was a co-choreographer and member of the first tap company in Mexico, The Tap Company Mx. Additionally, she has performed as a soloist across Mexico at events like Festival Internacional de Santa Lucía, Cosmopolitap in Guadalajara and Monterrey’s Tap Fest’s Live Concert, to name a few. In 2019 she self-produced Oye Como Va, the first show in Latin America directed by Derick Grant and choreographed by Dormeshia and Derick Grant that featured national and international tap dancers.
Melissa teaches classes all over Monterrey, Mexico and has taught workshops in different cities such as Cancún, Tampico, Mexico City, Bogotá and Madrid. She is currently self-producing her second show “My Favorite Things” and is excited to keep sharing her passion and love for tap dance with the world.
Who are you, and why do you support O’Mara Sprung Floors?
I am Melissa Almaguer, a tap dancer from Monterrey, Mexico, and I love O’Mara Sprung Floors because it’s design allows me to tap dance safely, without compromising my body, compared to that of a flat, unsprung floor.
What do you love?
I love tap dance, music, traveling and learning.
Why do you dance?
Tap dance has given me a voice, a purpose and another family that I love deeply. It has helped me love myself and embrace who I am and where I come from.
Why do you choose to dance on O’Mara Sprung Floors?
I choose O’Mara Sprung floors because they’re just the best tap floors. The sound is amazing and I can shed for hours without worrying my knees can get hurt because they’re sprung.
Career highlights thus far:
Oye Como Va
Tap Family Reunion
Monterrey’s Tap Live Concert
Jacob’s Pillow
Festival Internacional Santa Lucia
Hometown:
Monterrey
Current Home Base:
Monterrey
Where have you come from?
I come from a country were Tap dance was not well known or respected but that has given me the opportunity to help change that little by little by sharing my passion and love for it.
Where are you headed?
We’ll see!