Today we’d like to introduce you to Melissa Ruiz.
Hi Melissa, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
Born and raised in Miami, Fl. I’ve been dancing since I was 4yrs old. I danced competitively for many years and then starting teaching my own dance classes at 18yrs old (1999), Teaching and choreographing on competitive dancers quickly became a passion of mine but the itch to perform led me to move to Orlando in 2001 to start auditioning for the parks and Orlando Magic but when those opportunities did not work out for me, I searched for more,
2001 were the days when pop stars and boy bands were coming out of Orlando so there were many back up dancing opportunities . I started that journey , met the right person who got my foot in the door to audition for a recording artist and landed my first gig. Through that gig I started networking and making my connections that led me to several other opportunities as a professional dancer here in Orlando.
During this time of performing, there was one thing I did notice. There were barely any places for adults to train to keep up their dance technique. They existed but very few and they were very limited with options. It always stuck with me that maybe I should start my own studio but it was not the time. I was not ready or experienced enough at 22yrs old for that to even be a second thought.
Throughout this time I knew I wanted to continue teaching competitive dancers because it was something I felt I was really good at, so I started my search and drove to several dance studios in the area to drop off my picture and resume to try to get a teaching position.
A year later , one of those studios I visited had a sub position open up with the intention that it was temporary. Well temporary led to 16 years as their Jazz teacher, choreographer and Hip Hop Company director before leaving in 2018 and where I continued choreographing at till 2022 . In addition that, I took on another dance studio where I spent 15yrs training kids in Hip Hop and
continued choreographing there till 2019.. Those years led me to expand my resume , teaching & choreographing all around the state and throughout the country.
So moral of the story is…. performing was short lived as what became my main focus was running my competitive companies and raising 2 generations of dancers
Within those years , I wanted to do more. Something that was mine, that I owned and created with my own ideas. I wanted to offer more to the dance community. I wanted to bring things to the table that I thought that our dance community was lacking. So within the time of my teaching commitment, I started my own all Hip Hop convention that started as StreetStylz in the early 2000s but later turned into Underground Dance Xperience in 2013 which is where the “Underground” name was born.
Making my mark and meeting dancers on all sides of the community through my event made me ready for the next step but I still wasn’t really sure where exactly that direction would be.
My turning point was when a close friend sat me down and asked me what was stopping me from starting my own studio. I explained to him that one thing I knew for sure was that I did not want a competitive studio and it was not an option for me. As I continued to go back forth with him, I mentioned that the only way I would do it was if it was a drop in dance space that catered to the very passionate / professional dancer. It wouldn’t be for kids and it would be age restricted and then before I knew it, I had a pretty good structure behind something that seemed possible.
The culture of dance had become very much about the drop in scene by this time and it was starting to grow here in Orlando with other drop in studios opening doors, so I started brainstorming what would make me different . I did not want to do the same thing as others and the Hip Hop style had already had its place in the area and as much as I loved the culture of Hip Hop , I quickly realized that I needed to go back to my roots. I was first and foremost a ballet trained, Jazz /Jazz Funk dance obsessed kid that was trained in multiple styles and there was a huge void in the area for the technical dancer to continue to grow in their training.
In 2017 I informed all of my studios of this new chapter I was going to take on and put things into action. I started planning with that very same person that gave me my first break back in 2002 who became a mentor to me throughout my journey here in Orlando and that’s how the “Underground Movement” was born .
I kept the name “Underground” because it what a lot of dancers knew of me and I wanted it to stay recognizable, linked to the convention I started. Movement because it was dance but also because it was a “movement” in the Underground name with intentions to continue to branch out into other avenues one day.
July of 2018 we opened doors in the Mills 50 Art District and are now through lots of fight and determination through many unforeseen challenges, are still standing almost 7yrs later.
A full circle time of life for me where I enjoy watching many of my now grown dance kids teach for me and witness multiple former students & current students train at my space.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Absolutely not. I was only open a little over year when Covid hit . Having to adapt to the times of uncertainty and restructure literally everything in order to find a way to keep bringing revenue into the space.
We had to start virtual classes which did not work in our favor so I started an gofundme to get any help I can get from the community,
Through our donations and help from SBA loan we were thankfully able to start back up but I wanted to make sure everyone felt safe in such a scary time . We only allowed 7 ppl to each class with separation and we all danced in masks . I had to mop and disinfect in between each class and pivot in a way that was completely foreign so I always questioned if I was doing things right because there was no one in the world that knew the protocol in something like this
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I specialize in Jazz, Jazz Funk & Hip Hop
In the competitive world of dance with kids and in the dance studio culture, I became more known for my Hip Hop pieces
I am most proud of the relationships I have built with the dance kids that I raised . Even if they didn’t move on in dance, I feel like I built a very special bond with many of them and was able to mentor them in a way I wish I would have had growing up as a young dancer. Our culture can be very toxic and I truly believe I gave them a good balance of pushing them but showing them love
I strive to be different. I don’t follow what everyone tells me they think I should be or go about things in the way they think I should.
Are there any books, apps, podcasts or blogs that help you do your best?
Oooo this is a hard one . I sometimes stay away from a lot of things on
Social media or YouTube or even dance shows to make sure it’s authentically my idea when it comes to choreography concepts
I wish I could read books, I truly admire those who can . I am
not currently on any podcasts or blogs
I do enjoy documentaries on choreographers I looked up to in their process and hear their stories . Paula Abdul , Tina Landen & later Wade Robson to name a few
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Ugmovement.com
- Instagram: @underground_movement @freemovementsociety
