Melanie LaPatin
Encyclopedia
Melanie LaPatin is professional ballroom dance champion and choreographer, originally from Brooklyn, New York. LaPatin formed a professional partnership with Tony Meredith
in 1981, marrying him in 1989, traveling the world representing the United States twelve times in the Professional World Latin-American Dance Championships, and eventually moved to New York to train and open a studio. She was also on TLC
's What Not to Wear after being nominated by Meredith.
She has choreographed and appeared on film in such major motion pictures as Dance with Me, The Thomas Crown Affair, Let It Be Me and The Last Days of Disco. She has appeared as a choreographer on FOX's So You Think You Can Dance and CTV's So You Think You Can Dance Canada
.
As a dance coach and choreographer, LaPatin has worked with some of the most renowned film and television personalities, including Pierce Brosnan, Renee Russo, Vanessa Williams, Tim Robbins, Mary Steenburgen, Sonya Brava, Susan Sarandon, Steven Dorff, Patrick Stewart, Leslie Caron, Jennifer Beals, Harvey Keitel, Campbell Scott, Nancy Butler, Rob Schneider and Barbara Walters. She also appeared in and choreographed the movie Leading Ladies, playing the role of Sheri Campari, a mother who swears off men and lives vicariously through her daughters.
In 2008, she choreographed a photo shoot for Harper's Bazaar
called "Dancing with the Designers" that featured Jessica Biel
and high-end designers Vera Wang
, Oscar de la Renta
, Diane Von Furstenberg
, Calvin Klein
, and Zac Posen.
magazine called the studio "the most fashionable place in New York City to learn to dance..."
Tony Meredith
-Biography:Tony Meredith, born in Hawaii, discovered ballroom dancing after replying to a newspaper ad seeking dance teachers.-Dance career:Tony met Melanie LaPatin in 1981 and the two subsequently formed a professional partnership, traveling the world representing the United States 12 times in the...
in 1981, marrying him in 1989, traveling the world representing the United States twelve times in the Professional World Latin-American Dance Championships, and eventually moved to New York to train and open a studio. She was also on TLC
TLC (TV channel)
TLC is an American cable TV specialty channel which initially focused on educational content. Since 1991 TLC has been owned by Discovery Communications, the same company that operates the Discovery Channel, Animal Planet and The Science Channel, as well as other learning-themed networks...
's What Not to Wear after being nominated by Meredith.
Competition and titles
With Meredith, LaPatin represented the United States for over a decade in the World Latin American Dance Championships and has taken home over 100 championship titles. Their titles include: The United States Professional Latin Champions, Dirty Dancing Champions, 1999 DanceSport World Cup Champions, Four-time Champions of the North American Latin Championships, The World Trophy Title Holders, American-Swing World Cabaret Dance Champions, Three-time Champions of the "Championship Ballroom Dancing" (Sponsor, PBS), Copacabana Mambo Marathon Finalists, and Twelve-time United States Representatives for the World Latin Championships.Choreography
LaPatin is in high demand as a coach of top dancers around the world and as a choreographer for actors in film, television and Broadway.She has choreographed and appeared on film in such major motion pictures as Dance with Me, The Thomas Crown Affair, Let It Be Me and The Last Days of Disco. She has appeared as a choreographer on FOX's So You Think You Can Dance and CTV's So You Think You Can Dance Canada
So You Think You Can Dance Canada
So You Think You Can Dance Canada was a dance competition and reality show that aired on CTV.Based on the original American TV show So You Think You Can Dance, the Canadian series showcased the best in Canadian dancing talent. Each season, the show held auditions in major cities across the...
.
As a dance coach and choreographer, LaPatin has worked with some of the most renowned film and television personalities, including Pierce Brosnan, Renee Russo, Vanessa Williams, Tim Robbins, Mary Steenburgen, Sonya Brava, Susan Sarandon, Steven Dorff, Patrick Stewart, Leslie Caron, Jennifer Beals, Harvey Keitel, Campbell Scott, Nancy Butler, Rob Schneider and Barbara Walters. She also appeared in and choreographed the movie Leading Ladies, playing the role of Sheri Campari, a mother who swears off men and lives vicariously through her daughters.
In 2008, she choreographed a photo shoot for Harper's Bazaar
Harper's Bazaar
Harper’s Bazaar is an American fashion magazine, first published in 1867. Harper’s Bazaar is published by Hearst and, as a magazine, considers itself to be the style resource for “women who are the first to buy the best, from casual to couture.”...
called "Dancing with the Designers" that featured Jessica Biel
Jessica Biel
Jessica Claire Biel is an American actress, model, and occasional singer. Biel is known for her television role as Mary Camden in the long-running family-drama series 7th Heaven...
and high-end designers Vera Wang
Vera Wang
Vera Ellen Wang is a Chinese American fashion designer based in New York City and former figure skater. She is known for her wide clientele of couture bridesmaid gowns and wedding gown collections.-Personal life:...
, Oscar de la Renta
Oscar de la Renta
Oscar de la Renta is one of the world's leading fashion designers. He was named to the International Best Dressed List Hall of Fame in 1973.-Career:...
, Diane Von Furstenberg
Diane von Fürstenberg
Diane von Fürstenberg, formerly Princess Diane of Fürstenberg , is a Belgian-American fashion designer best known for her iconic wrap dress. She initially rose to prominence when she married into the German princely House of Fürstenberg, as the wife of Prince Egon of Fürstenberg...
, Calvin Klein
Calvin Klein
Calvin Richard Klein is an American fashion designer who launched the company that would later become Calvin Klein Inc. in 1968. In addition to clothing, Klein has also given his name to a range of perfumes, watches, and jewelry....
, and Zac Posen.
Dance Times Square Studio
Upon retiring from the competitive floor in 1998, LaPatin and her Meredith created Dance Times Square Studio in New York’s Times Square. Despite their subsequent amicable divorce, they continue to choreograph for film, television, Broadway and a new generation of competitive dancers, and celebrities. VogueVogue (magazine)
Vogue is a fashion and lifestyle magazine that is published monthly in 18 national and one regional edition by Condé Nast.-History:In 1892 Arthur Turnure founded Vogue as a weekly publication in the United States. When he died in 1909, Condé Montrose Nast picked up the magazine and slowly began...
magazine called the studio "the most fashionable place in New York City to learn to dance..."
See also
- U.S. National Dancesport Champions (Professional Latin)U.S. National Dancesport Champions (Professional Latin)The United States national professional ballroom dance champions are crowned at the United States Dance Championships , as recognized by the National Dance Council of America and the World Dance & DanceSport Council ....
- So You Think You Can Dance (Season 3)So You Think You Can Dance (Season 3)So You Think You Can Dance is an American television reality program and dance competition airing on the Fox network. Season three premiered May 24, 2007....
- America's Ballroom ChallengeAmerica's Ballroom ChallengeAmerica's Ballroom Challenge is a competitive ballroom dance television series airing on Public Broadcasting Service in the United States since 2006.It is part of the annual Ohio Star Ball, a festival of DanceSport in Columbus, Ohio....