Melissa GIRARD
Dancer

Melissa received a grant to participate in the Camping project organized by the Centre National de la Danse.

What is your artistic background ?
I began classical dance at the age of seven, alongside Karen Lemorin, then contemporary dance and jazz at the age of 12, in French Guyana. For me it was a hobby, a passion. Since my adolescence, I wanted this passion to become a profession. In fact, it was Priscilla Faubert, my contemporary dance and jazz teacher, who gave me the means to make my dream come true. With her, I have enjoyed many artistic performances in French Guyana as well as wonderful shows every year. At 18, I obtained my E.A.T (technical aptitude test), specializing in jazz and contemporary, then I continued my training at the Harmonic Studio in Paris. There, I prepared my theoretical modules while doing the state diploma. After two years of learning from these Parisian experiences with great dance figures (Audrey Hopquin, Laure demoliere, Corinne Lancelle...), I went back to Guyana to recharge my batteries at the dance school where I grew up. In 2017, I finished my state diploma by passing the contemporary dance theory exam. I then felt ready to reach out and teach.                                        

How do you see your profession today ?
I think that in my profession, you never stop growing. It's a profession that requires us to never stop nourishing ourselves, artistically and theoretically. I have the desire to pass that on and give.    

How do you see yourself in five years ? In 10 years ?
In five years, I would like, perhaps, to have my own dance school, to organise dance events, to pass on to young people the knowledge and experience that I will have acquired, to go abroad to "see something else". It is more difficult for me to imagine myself in 10 years. I live rather from day to day, artistically speaking. 

This interview was conducted in 2019
Photo credit: Amandine Besacier