05/20/2026
It’s almost time for our Spring Concert of Dance, however, it’s the last for our seniors. Next is Madison Melrose! Read below to read what she had to say about herself, dance, and MPA. We are so proud of you Madison! 🩵
Come see Madison and our dancers perform at the River Arts Center on Friday, May 22 at 7:00pm and Saturday, May 23 at 1:00pm and 6:00pm. 🎶
- What high school are you graduating from? Sun Prairie East High School
- What are your plans after graduation? Attend University of Minnesota Twin Cities to study biochemistry on a pre-med track!
- What is your favorite food? Fun fact this is my least favorite question to be asked because I genuinely have no clue. My favorites include a chipotle burrito bowl, crunchy grapes, coffee ice cream and outshine tangerine popsicles.
- What is your favorite music to listen to? Currently I’m loving Noah Kahans new album and I’m so excited for Olivia Rodrigo’s album drop this summer!
- What do you like to do outside of dance? I love musical theater! It’s actually the reason I got into dance in the first place. I was the junior dance captain of my show freshman year (I should not have been, just so were aware) but the choreographer Micheal Stanek pushed me and is the reason that I have come to love dance and am the dancer I am today.
- How long have you been dancing at MPA?: I have been dancing at MPA for 2 years and in total 3 years!
- What are some of your favorite dances you’ve been able to perform? I did dance team at my school this past year and the senior choreographed hip hop dance we performed at Hoco has to be my favorite!
- What is your favorite part of dance? My favorite part of dance is the way that it quiets my mind, I have always had a busy active brain that does NOT shut up. It often leaves me super distracted and stressed out, but dance, especially ballet at the barre, quiets my brain and allows me to be fully present in the moment in a way nothing else has ever done.
- What is your favorite dance style? My favorite style of dance is either Musical Theater or Ballet! Tap is a very close runner up though!
- Best memory from MPA: I'm in Ms. Crystal's Modern Fusion class with a lot of MPA's PP 3/4 dancers who are absolutely incredible and even though they are at least 4-5 years younger than me, I look up to them so much. These girls are truly incredible dancers and it's clear how much they love dancing. My favorite memory comes from that class was when I was subbing in for one of them during a run through of their number and there's this part where they run and give the person I was subbing in for a GIANT hug. I almost started crying in that moment in all honesty because these girls never fail to bring me so much joy and their dedication, passion and energy is something I hope to emanate as I move to the next chapter of my life.
- What will you miss about MPA? The people easily. While MPA has improved me as a dancer in ways I never thought possible, I don't know what I will do without my MPA people. Ms. Erin: Thank you for laughing with me always, and your belief in me as a dancer. You have always believed in me as a dancer in ways I never would have and without you I wouldn't be nearly as confident as I am, I also would never have tried a left side leap for a performance so thank you for that too 🙂 Ms. Crystal: I genuinely believe that I would not be half the dancer I am today without you, Your emphasis on technique and emotion are lessons that I will always carry with me. But also thank you for the laughs and always pushing me to do what I thought I could never do, Without fail in your classes I think to myself "where does she even get the idea that I could do that". Ms. Meghan: Thank you for teaching me to love ballet. Your class is the calmest and quietest my brain has ever been and so much of that is because you always taught us where to put our focus. I can say with certainty that my knees would be cooked without you. I am constantly thinking about where my pelvis is because of you. But also you always bring me so much joy. I love talking about anything and everything with you and your class was easily the one I laughed the most in. Lastly I want to thank my Modern Fusion friends: Monroe, Madison, Olivia, Hailey, Remy, Nina, Shmem, and Mylee. I never fail to leave Modern Fusion with a smile on my face because of you all. You are truly the funniest and kindest people. Thank you for becoming friends with the senior who is so behind in comparison with most dancers her age. You are truly incredible people and I will miss you all endlessly.
- Proudest achievement within dance: In a jazz class I did a leap across the floor and Ms. Erin was shocked and told me it looked so good! She said "Maddie that was a Natalie long legs leap"!!!! "Natalie long legs" was a dancer in my jazz class last year who had the most GORGEOUS leaps. So to be told mine looked like that was the highest compliment.
- How do you plan to keep dance in your life? I will be minoring in dance at UMN Twin Cities. This would not have been something I even considered if it weren't for the teachers at MPA so thank you 🙂
- Advice you'd like to share: Please just keep dancing, or if you've been wanting to dance just do it! Don't dance for the "Natalie Long Leg Leaps." Dance for yourself, let this be your outlet. Lastly, those dancers who are regarded as the "best" or "the future of dance", don't forget what got you here, my guess is it's your love for dance. I got so burnt out, (with musical theater, not dance so it's different) but the message is nonetheless the same. Keep dancing for yourself and your love, not the reasons society forces upon you. I can say with 100% confidence that all of the dancers at MPA are incredible and bring something special to the room so just keep being you and dance for you! I also want to quickly thank my parents, and Aunt Rebecca for paying for my dance education, none of this would be possible without you.
