Photo © Paul Kolnik

MELISSA BARAK

Background
 
Melissa Barak was born in Los Angeles, California, and began her ballet training at the age of eight at Westside School of Ballet in Santa Monica. There she studied with Yvonne Mounsey, Rosemary Valaire and Nader Hamed until 1996, when she moved to New York to attend the School of American Ballet (SAB), the official school of New York City Ballet. She originated a role in Christopher Wheeldon's Soiree Musicale for SAB's 1998 Annual Workshop. In June 1998, Ms. Barak was invited to become an apprentice with New York City Ballet and less than a month later she became a member of the corps de ballet. She danced with NYCB through January 2007.

Ms. Barak has performed featured roles in: George Balanchine's Cortège Hongrois, The Four Temperaments, George Balanchine's The Nutcracker ™ (Hot Chocolate, Coffee, Flowers, and Dolls), A Midsummer Night's Dream (Helena); Peter Martins': The Sleeping Beauty (Courage), Swan Lake (Princesses and Russian); and Christopher Wheeldon's: Carnival of the Animals

Ms. Barak originated corps roles in: Eliot Feld's Organon, Peter Martins' Chichester Psalms, Richard Tanner's Soirée, Christopher Wheeldon's An American in Paris, Klavier, and Mercurial Manoeuvres

Honors: Ms. Barak is a recipient of the 2001 Choo-San Goh Award for Choreography.

Film Credits: Ms. Barak's film credits include a brief appearance in the movie Toys.

Choreography: In June 2001, Ms. Barak choreographed Telemann Overture Suite in E Minor for the School of American Ballet's Annual Workshop. Telemann Overture Suite in E Minor had its NYCB premiere on January 6, 2002. In addition, Ms. Barak's If by Chance premiered on June 4, 2002, as part of NYCB's 2002 Diamond Project.