Melody Shanahan is multicultural international dancer who has trained most of my life in classical ballet, modern, jazz, and Mexican folklore. She began performing at the age of eight and has danced throughout North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and internationally in Mexico, where she was invited by the State of Mexico in 2024. Most recently, she was honored to receive first place in Calabria, Italy, for her solo classical ballet performance. 

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She is currently a junior at UNC Charlotte, pursuing a double major in Dance and Criminology with a minor in Psychology and completing the Charlotte Ballet Certificate program.

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Her Mexican roots and deep love for Mexican folklore inspired her to create the first-ever Mexican Folklore Ensemble at UNC Charlotte. Through this group, she hopes to share her cultural roots with everyone, uniting people through the love of dance.