Kirov Academy of Ballet(USA)

Dance Explosion(USA)

Soloist

2013

New York Choreographic Institute Fellowship 2011

Melissa Hough joined The Norwegian National Ballet in 2013, after a career at the Boston Ballet, which culminated in her appointment in 2009 as a Principal Dancer (the highest accolade), and the Houston Ballet, where she was First Soloist. Originally from Maryland, USA, Hough trained at the Kirov Academy of Ballet in Washington, D.C., and took part already as a young dancer in ballet competitions both at home and abroad. Hough has danced the principal roles in Sergejev's Sleeping Beauty, Gielgud's Giselle and in several other classics such as Swan Lake, Don Quixote and Cinderella. She has danced prominent parts in neoclassical and modern works such as Balanchine's Jewels and Kylián's Falling Angels. With The Norwegian National Ballet, she has danced the title role in Scarlett's Firebird, prominent parts in Scarlett's Vespertine and Forsythe's Steptext, as well as the Sugar Plum Fairy and Clara in The Nutcracker. Melissa Hough also works as a choreographer, and her work has been performed in gala performances with Houston Ballet, Boston Ballet and Oregon Ballet Theater. She has also choreographed for the pre-professional company Boston Ballet II. Hough has created roles in works by Lucinda Childs, Mark Morris, Stanton Welch, Niccolo Fonte, Aszure Barton, Helen Pickett and Jorma Elo. In 2011 Hough was awarded a New York Choreographic Institute Fellowship. She is affiliated with the New York City Dance Alliance as a teacher of contemporary dance.