A born and bred California girl, Melodie received her degree in Theater Arts/Dance from Cal State University, Hayward. Her modern/ballet training in the SF bay area (ODC Theater, Shawl-Anderson Dance Center) led her to perform with Randee Paufve, Nina Haft, and Dandelion Dance Theater. Once relocating to NYC, Ms. Jeffery-Cassell performed with Bernier Dance, Pascal Rekeort, and YC Movement Theatre.
As rehearsal director and principal performer for YC Movement Theatre, Melodie has performed in YC’s Sunlight Interior, Moonlight: Suite of Images, and the Off-Broadway production Moonlight Interior (www.moonlightinterior.com). Marcia Seigel of the Boston Phoenix writes of her performance “Melodie Jeffery was a marvel with a quiet and spiritual fluidity in her movements…Ms. Jeffery's solo reminded me of pure bliss…she was able to convey so much with so little…I felt a shiver in my spine; beautiful.” This holiday season Ms. Jeffery-Cassell joined her husband Yo-el Cassell performing in the seasonal tale of Anthony Williams’ Urban Nutcracker.
When not performing, Melodie fulfills her passion of teaching dance. While in NYC, Melodie was on faculty at The Brearley School, Peridance International Dance Center and the Mark Morris Dance Center. She and her husband also co-founded The Horizon Summer Workshop Series in Tarrytown NY, which educates students in the art of dance/movement and theater. Now a Bostonian, Melodie is a proud faculty member of the Walnut Hill School for the Arts and our very own Boston Ballet!
