|
|
Our Staff
|
Melba Huber
|
Melba Huber is president of Melba's Inc., a world-class dance studio in McAllen, Texas, that houses six dance studios, a preschool gym, a snack barre and a dance supply store. She is the founder of McAllen Dance Theatre Company that performs every February at the McAllen Civic Center. 2007 represents 50 years in business in McAllen, Texas.
Huber wrote Tap Talk for the New York Magazine Dance Pages/Dance and the Arts for ten years. After the magazine closed, Huber continued the column, renamed Tappin' In for Dancer Publication in 1998. The columns can be read on line www.melbasdance.com representing almost twenty years of dance history. She writes for the International Tap Association and was featured on their cover and named their first Tap Ambassador. Melba was on the cover of Dancer Magazine announcing the gift of the columns online to the dance world (www.melbasdance.com). She was assisted by a grant from the McAllen, Texas Cultural Arts Council.
"It was important to me to write about tap and the many artists who played important roles in tap history,” Huber stated. “I wanted them to be honored while they are still alive, but I also wanted to include and encourage the new artist and no one was doing it."
In 2006 Melba was honored by Savion Glover at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center and by Tradition In Tap in New York in 2005.
In 1995, Oklahoma City University presented Huber an award for over 50 years of contribution to the arts as a dance teacher. Huber was the first person outside of New York City to be presented the New York Flo-Bert Award in 1996 at Lincoln Center for "life achievement in improving the art and skill of the tap dancer."
The Texas Senate recognized Huber in 1997 for contributions to dance by presenting her the Texas state flag. In 1998, she was presented the Savion Glover Award in St. Louis, Missouri. Among her many credits, Huber includes the National Health and Physical Education Association's Plaudit Award and she is a past president of the Texas Association Teachers of Dancing.
She served on a four-member panel for Texas Dance History for Houston's Greater Tap Gathering. She received a member of the year award from the South Texas chapter of Dance Masters of America in 1989 and will receive her 50-year award from DMA in 2005. In 1999, she received the OCU Preservation of Our Heritage, American Dance Award, and in 2000, the Woman of Distinction Award by the Detroit Tap Festival. She has been listed in Who’s Who in the World, Who's Who in America, Who's Who in American Women, and Who’s Who in Education from 2006 to the present. Huber often conducts dance history panels and interviews at dance festivals and workshops in New York for Tradition In Tap and at the St. Louis Tap Festival.
Melba’s former students are everywhere. There are professions dancers, teachers, dance and gym owners and directors, and teachers using dance and gym in various professions. There are also many men and women who remember the ballroom classes in McAllen at Melba’s.
Melba Huber is a conservator of American dance in the truest sense of the word. |
Julie (Doyle) Wilson
|
Julie is the director of Melba’s School of Dancing. She also serves as the preschool director and the artistic director and choreographer of McAllen Dance Theatre. She has been in charge of advanced programs for 7 years with specialties in ballet, pointe, tap and jazz. She was a dance major at Oklahoma City University and has a bachelor of Arts and Science in English with honors. Julie has been a student and faculty member at Melba’s for 20 years. Her continuing education includes: member of the Texas Association Teachers of Dancing and the International Tap Association. She receives scholarships annually to the St. Louis Tap Festival and to two annual events for Tradition In Tap in New York. While in New York, twice a year, she attends classes for her continuing dance education in all subjects. Her choreographic talents match Broadway levels in the advanced classes, and she is equally skilled in the preschool levels that she loves. |
Edwina Perez
|
Edwina is the assistant director of Melba's School of Dancing and McAllen Dance Theater. She also serves as the director and choreographer of Developmental Jazz and Tap and McAllen Dance Theatre’s Junior Tap and Junior Jazz. Edwina has been a student and faculty member at Melba’s for 24 years. Her continuing education includes: St. Louis Tap Festival, New York classes and Tradition In Tap. She is a member of the Texas Association Teachers of Dancing and International Tap Association. Edwina's musical theatre classes have become one of the most popular classes at Melba's. She has sensational choreographic skills. Edwina graduated from the University of Texas Pan American in the College of Education with a major in Interdisciplinary Studies and a minor in Early Childhood Education. She loves the developmental levels, and her training boosts students to top level classes. |
|
|
|
Victoria Chappel
|
Victoria has been a part of Melba's as a student and faculty member for the last 18 years and serves as the developmental tap director. Victoria can simply do it all and can't wait to go to New York every year for new classes and ideas for her Melba's classes. She is a unique dancer who excels in all dance forms. She currently attends Pan American University. Victoria is a new member of The Texas Association Teachers of Dancing and made a perfect score on her examination. We are proud of her. |
Alyssa Thomas
|
Alyssa is the director of hip hop at Melba's. She has been a student and faculty member for 7 years. Her choreography is amazing in hip-hop. It has the feeling of the street dance, but with a classy tone resulting from her choice of music and movement. Alyssa currently attends the University of Texas Pan American, where she is majoring in English.
|
|
Bailey Smith
|
Bailey is the head instructor for Preschool Funk, a creative movement fun class at Melba's. She also teaches preschool classes and assists with other dance classes. Bailey was a member of the McAllen Dance Theatre Company for five years and was recognized in jazz at the Texas Association Teachers of Dancing by the teachers. She had a role in the ballet, Napoli, her senior year.
|
MELBA'S RETAIL DANCE STORE STAFF
|
|
|
|
Delilah Alviar
|
|
Delilah Alviar has been a key member of the retail staff at Melba’s for 12 years. She has an excellent creative eye and serves as the merchandiser at Melba’s. Delilah’s other attributes include the expert fitting of dance attire and footwear. Delilah is now a tap student at Melba's! |
|
(photo to come)
Mary Janell Leos
|
|
Mary Janell Leos is the newest faculty member of Melba's Dance Store having been there for six years. She is a versatile person who helps accomplish anything that needs to be done. She attends South Texas College. |
Ernie Madero
|
|
Ernie Madero has been in charge of maintenance at Melba's for 20 years, and keeps an eye on all the kids who wait for their parents. He serves as the night watchman and sees that anyone leaving late gets to their cars safely. He helps with many things at the civic center and assists with stage set-up and floor management. |
|
|
|
| |
|
|