MISSION

Marin Conservatory Dance Company (MCDC)

Marin Conservatory Dance Company (MCDC) is a dynamic 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to enriching the lives of young dancers and expanding access to the transformative power of dance. As an extension of the Marin Conservatory of Dance, MCDC provides opportunities beyond the classroom, including participation in ballet competitions, scholarships for year-round training, and community outreach programs.

Our Mission
MCDC's mission is twofold:

1. Empowering Our Dancers:
   We support students at the Marin Conservatory of Dance by facilitating their participation in 1-2 ballet competitions annually, with choreography prepared during Saturday rehearsals. Scholarships are available to ensure talented dancers can pursue their training regardless of financial circumstances.
2. Community Outreach:
   MCDC proudly offers fully funded Ballet Bridging Classes, an 8-to-10-week program held three times a year for underserved youth in Marin County. These classes introduce children to classical ballet and other dance styles, providing free training, proper dance attire, and tickets for their families to attend performances.

Opportunities for Dancers

• MCDC Competition Dancers: Open to Marin Conservatory of Dance students in Levels 1C, 2B, 2C, 3A, 4, 5, and 6, with select dancers privately invited to join. Membership follows the academic year and includes opportunities to perform in competitions such as California Dance Classics, YAGP, Spotlight Dance Cup, NYCDA, and Icon.
• Community Engagement: Dancers may also participate in local volunteer opportunities, such as supporting Bridging Classes and fundraising events.

Performance & Showcase
Competition choreography will be presented in the Marin Conservatory of Dance Spring Showcase programs, allowing dancers to share their artistry with the community.

Through our scholarships, outreach programs, and competition opportunities, MCDC is committed to breaking down barriers, nurturing talent, and using dance as a bridge to create brighter futures. Together, we inspire creativity, build confidence, and foster a lifelong love for the arts.

Executive / Artistic Director

Melinda Neal is the Executive / Artistic Director of Marin Conservatory Dance Company, established in 2022. Melinda is a Bay Area native with extensive ballet training and professional experience. She trained under Yanina Cwyinska and Ronn Guidi, earned a BA in performing arts from St. Mary's College of California LEAP program, and is a certified Pilates Instructor. Melinda danced professionally for 16 years with companies such as Oakland Ballet Company, Peninsula Ballet Theatre, Napoles Ballet Theatre, and Bay Pointe Ballet. She guested with California Youth Ballet and Milissa Payne Project. She co-owned "The Dance Network" for nine years and was the Artistic Director for their Nonprofit youth ballet company. She has served as Children's Ballet Mistress for State Street Ballet, Peninsula Ballet Theatre, and Bay Pointe Ballet. Melinda has taught in the Bay Area for 25 years at various schools, including Alonzo King Lines Dance Center, Alameda Civic Ballet, ODC Dance, SF Arts Education Project, Peninsula Ballet Conservatory, Bay Pointe Ballet, Roco Dance in Mill Valley. She owns the Marin Conservatory of Dance, a classical ballet conservatory. Her students have gone on to prestigious ballet schools, major dance programs, summer intensives, and colleges such as San Francisco Ballet, Alonzo King Lines Training Program, Alvin Ailey Training Program, Rock School of Ballet, Joffrey Ballet, Miami City Ballet, Dance Theatre of Harlem, School of American Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, Bolshoi Ballet, UCLA, Fordham University, and NYU Tisch School of the Arts, and SMU Dance Department. Two of her dancers have recently been in trainee programs with State Street Ballet and Miami City Ballet. She is passionate about training future generations with a focus on the dancer's physical, emotional, and mental health, bringing her students a fresh outlook on ballet, passion, creativity, discipline, and individuality.