Melissa Riker (Choreographer, Artistic Director) is a choreographer, dancer & aerialist. Ms. Riker’s choreography mixing text and dance has been performed in venues throughout New York City since 1998; Dixon Place’s Words and the Movement, From the Ashes and a shared evening of work with Sara Juli, Forget Politics let’s talk about me…, for Manhattan Theatre Source’s Estrogenius 2003. Since 2003, Kinesis Project has been the main movement vehicle for her choreography.

However, her aerial choreography continued with Cirque Boom for The Circus of Vices and Virtues 2002 and 2003 and The Hoffman Circus 2004. She directed/choreographed the extremely physical play The Adventures of Spanky and Obnoc also at Manhattan Theatre Source.

Ms. Riker also works as a choreographer and movement coach collaborating with actors and directors to create character generated movement.  She and director Sarah Cameron Sunde are creating a technique they call Integrated Movement.

Her choreography has been produced by such venues/organizations as Merce Cunningham Studio, Chashama 44th Stret, FAB Festival, Six Figures Theatre Company, Oslo Elsewhere, 59E59 Theatre, Lord Strange Productions, New Georges, Sticks and Stones, the Making of a Sculpture Garden, Williamsburg Arts NeXus (WAX), HERE theatre, University Settlement, Ririe-Woodbury Dance Festival, Manhattan Theatre Source, Dixon Place, American Dance Guild, Brooklyn Water-Front Festival, Hoboken Arts Center, Save The Gardens, the Flea Theatre and NYU Womyns Center.

She worked closely with Lois Carey, MSW PhD, in peer groups for survivors of violent crime and during the annual Sensitivity Training for Judges and District Attorney on how to interact with victims and families during trials and investigations of violent crimes.

In addition to her own choreography, Ms. Riker performs with Lynn Neuman/Artichoke Dance Company, and has performed for such talented individuals as Murray Spalding/Mandalas, Jackie Villamil, Darrah Carr, Sharon Fogerty Dance Theatre, Torque Dance, Cirque Boom Kirkos and Paul Estabrook. Film credits include work for Fluid Film and Braidwood Productions.

Ms. Riker had the pleasure of training with master performers Gelsey Kirkland, Carmen DeLavallade and Norman Walker while earning a BFA from Adelphi University.