At the tender age of 13, Melissa Toogood took a leap of faith that would shape her entire future. After being captivated by the performances at Newtown’s School of Performing Arts, young Melissa courageously reached out to the school, requesting an audition that ultimately changed her life.
“I called the school and I asked to audition,”
she recalls.
“I was scared. But, hey, it paid off.”
Fast forward three decades, and Melissa Toogood’s dance career has reached new heights as she assumes the prestigious role of dean and director of Juilliard School’s dance division in New York. With up to 90 aspiring dancers under her guidance, Toogood is tasked with nurturing the next generation of contemporary performers. Reflecting on this significant career move, she expresses her readiness to transition from performing herself to facilitating opportunities for emerging artists:
“I still want to live an artful life… I’ll be able to put together all these skills that I’ve already been working on into one job.”
Toogood’s journey from a sports-loving family in Sydney’s western suburbs to leading one of the world’s foremost performing arts institutions is a testament not only to her talent but also to the transformative power of arts education. She attributes much of her success to Australia’s public education system and emphasizes the importance of making arts education accessible to all:
“It encourages creativity, critical thinking, and empathy.”
Having spent most of her career in New York collaborating with renowned dance companies and choreographers, Toogood brings a wealth of experience and expertise to her new role at Juilliard. Her accolades include being part of the Merce Cunningham Dance Company and receiving acclaim for performances characterized as “precise and fluid.
” Additionally, she has shared her knowledge through teaching engagements at esteemed institutions like Princeton University.
Returning home amidst the pandemic’s aftermath allowed Toogood to reconnect with Australian dance organizations like Sydney Dance Company and Bangarra before embarking on this exciting new chapter at Juilliard. As she prepares for this pivotal role starting on July 1st, Toogood acknowledges feeling nervous yet eager about the opportunity ahead: “
I’ll be setting the vision for the school…and really help them mature as artists.”
With a supportive husband who is an American visual artist and their seven-year-old son by her side, Melissa Toogood is poised to inspire countless aspiring dancers while leaving an indelible mark on one of the most esteemed dance schools globally.
In conclusion, Melissa Toogood’s remarkable journey from a young dancer inspired by a school performance in Sydney to leading Juilliard’s prestigious dance division serves as a testament to passion, perseverance, and dedication within the world of performing arts.
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