Melissa Chapski was born in Medfield, Massachusetts. In 2015, she graduated from the Ellison Ballet Professional Training Program in New York City under the guidance of Erin Forrest and Edward Ellison. That same year, she was awarded a gold medal at Indianapolis International Ballet Competition and YAGP’s Boston regional, and a contract to the Dutch National Ballet’s junior company at YAGP Finals where she placed top 12.
Melissa danced with the Dutch National Ballet in Amsterdam for five seasons, and now dances in Munich, Germany with the Bayerisches Staatsballett since her departure in spring 2020. She has appeared as a guest artist in ballet galas in London, Spain, Mexico, Switzerland, China, America, and The Netherlands. Among the galas are two for YAGP. One in Tampa, Florida in 2018 and the other in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico in 2016. Melissa also danced 'Trois Gnossiennes', a famous duet by master choreographer Hans van Manen, in the interlude at Prix de Lausanne 2016.
Melissa’s repertoire includes Zulma in Giselle, Emeralds, Rubies, and Diamonds in Balanchine's Jewels, demi-soloists in George Balanchine’s Symphony in 3 Movements, Pas de Cinq in David Dawson’s Giselle, the 6 brides in Swan Lake, and Little Red Riding Hood in Sleeping Beauty. Melissa was also featured as ‘Emma’ in the movie High Strung: Free Dance and has done ad campaigns for Huawei Mobile, Nikon Europe, Discount Dance Supply, Capezio, and Russian Pointe. She is also currently working towards an undergraduate degree at Harvard University's Extension school.
