Melanie LaPatin is a United States Professional Ballroom Dance Champion and world-renowned choreographer, best known for her choreography work on Fox's "So You Think You Can Dance" and ABC's "Dancing With the Stars." Originally from Brooklyn, New York, LaPatin formed a professional partnership with
Tony Meredith
Tony Meredith is an American professional ballroom dancer, choreographer and United States Professional Latin Champion.
Biography
Tony Meredith, who is of Mexican and Samoan descent, was born in San Diego, California, US, discovered ballroom da ...
in 1981, marrying him in 1989. Together they traveled the world, competing, coaching, performing, lecturing, choreographing, and represented the United States in twelve Professional World Latin-American Dance Championships, winning over 100 championship titles. LaPatin eventually moved to back to New York to coach and open a Latin and Ballroom dance studio, Dance Times Square.
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
''The Last Days of Disco'' is a 1998 American comedy-drama film written and directed by Whit Stillman, and loosely based on his travels and experiences in various nightclubs in Manhattan, including Studio 54. Starring Chloë Sevigny and Kate Beck ...
''. She has appeared as a choreographer on FOX's ''
So You Think You Can Dance
''So You Think You Can Dance'' is a franchise of reality television shows in which contestants compete in dance. The first series of the franchise, created by '' Idols'' producers Simon Fuller and Nigel Lythgoe, premiered in July 2005 and has ...
'' and CTV's ''
So You Think You Can Dance Canada
''So You Think You Can Dance Canada'' is 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 seas ...
''.
As a dance coach and choreographer, LaPatin has worked with some of the most renowned film and television personalities including Robin Williams, Russell Crowe, Emma Watson, Cameron Diaz, Megan Mullally, Matthew Morrison, 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, Rob Schneider and Barbara Walters. She also appeared in and choreographed the movie ''Leading Ladies'', playing the leading role of Sheri Campari, a mother who swears off men and lives vicariously through her daughters. LaPatin was also the Associate Choreographer for the feature film, "What to Expect When You're Expecting."
In 2008, she choreographed a photo shoot for ''
Harper's Bazaar
''Harper's Bazaar'' is an American monthly women's fashion magazine. It was first published in New York City on November 2, 1867, as the weekly ''Harper's Bazar''. ''Harper's Bazaar'' is published by Hearst and considers itself to be the st ...
'' called "Dancing with the Designers" that featured
Jessica Biel
Jessica Claire Timberlake (née Biel ; born March 3, 1982) is an American actress and model. She has received various accolades, including a Young Artist Award, and nominations for a Primetime Emmy Award and two Golden Globe Awards.
Biel be ...
and high-end designers
Vera Wang
Vera Ellen Wang (; born June 27, 1949) is an American fashion designer.
Early life
Vera Ellen Wang was born June 27, 1949 in New York City to Chinese parents who emigrated to the United States in the mid-1940s. Her mother, Florence Wu (Wu ...
,
Oscar de la Renta
Óscar Arístides Renta Fiallo (22 July 1932 – 20 October 2014), known professionally as Oscar de la Renta, was a Dominican fashion designer. Born in Santo Domingo, he was trained by Cristóbal Balenciaga and Antonio del Castillo. De la Renta ...
,
Diane Von Furstenberg
Diane may refer to:
People
*Diane (given name)
Film
* ''Diane'' (1929 film), a German silent film
* ''Diane'' (1956 film), a historical drama film starring Lana Turner
* ''Diane'' (2017 film), a mystery film directed by Michael Mongillo
* ''D ...
,
Calvin Klein
Calvin Richard Klein (born November 19, 1942) is an American fashion designer who launched the company that would later become Calvin Klein Inc., in 1968. In addition to clothing, he also has given his name to a range of perfumes, watches, and ...
, and Zac Posen.
Dance Times Square Studio
Upon retiring from the competitive floor in 1998, LaPatin and 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. ''
Vogue
Vogue may refer to:
Business
* ''Vogue'' (magazine), a US fashion magazine
** British ''Vogue'', a British fashion magazine
** ''Vogue Arabia'', an Arab fashion magazine
** ''Vogue Australia'', an Australian fashion magazine
** ''Vogue China'', ...
'' magazine called the studio "the most fashionable place in New York City to learn to dance..."
LaPatin's Official Site
/ref>
See also
* U.S. National Dancesport Champions (Professional Latin)
* '' So You Think You Can Dance (10 seasons)''
* ''America's Ballroom Challenge
America's Ballroom Challenge is a competitive ballroom dance television series that aired on Public Broadcasting Service in the United States between 2006 and 2009.
It is part of the annual Ohio Star Ball, a festival of DanceSport in Columbus, ...
''
References
External links
Official Site: MelanieLaPatin.com
TonyAndMelanie.com
*
So You Think You Can Dance (Fox)
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lapatin, Melanie
Living people
Year of birth missing (living people)
American ballroom dancers
American choreographers
So You Think You Can Dance choreographers