FALL 2023
Curriculum Vitae
Mel was born and raised in Canada and has trained extensively in aerial acrobatics, partner acrobatics, pole dance, yoga, dance, gymnastics, and general fitness. Having trained and performed worldwide, Mel is now primarily based in the Middle East where she teaches and performs, and is dedicated to building a growing acrobatic community.
As an instructor Mel aims to create a comfortable and engaging environment that allows students to learn about movement and their bodies in a healthy and happy way.
Certifications
e-RYT 500 (Experienced Registered Yoga Teacher)
Yoga Alliance
September 2019
e-RYT 200 (Experienced Registered Yoga Teacher)
Yoga Alliance
March 2017
YACEP Continuing Education Provider
Yoga Alliance
March 2017
Yoga 300 Hour Teacher Training (500 hour certified)
Yama Yoga (certified by Yoga Alliance)
Doha, Qatar
July 2016
Fitness Instructor Specialist
Canadian Fitness Professionals
Vancouver, Canada
January 2016
Pole Instructor Certification
Gravity Vertical Education
Vancouver, Canada
January 2016
Rigging Fundamentals for Aerial Performance
High Performance,
Letterkenny, Ireland
June 2015
Yoga 200 Hour Teacher Training
Association for Yoga and Meditation (certified by Yoga Alliance)
Rishikesh, India
January 2014
Atmospheric Yoga Teacher Training
Cadence Fitness
Victoria, Canada
September 2012
Gymnastics Coach Level 1
Whistler Gymnastics
Whistler, Canada
June 2007
First Aid
(continual upgrade)
*Certificate copies available upon request.
Teaching
Harbor Dance Studio
Thuwal, Saudia Arabia
2018 - present
Island Recreation Center
Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
2018 - present
Aerial Arts Jeddah
Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
February 2020
Feather Aerial Studio
Kuwait City, Kuwait
November 2019
Brava Studio
Doha, Qatar
October 2019
Seychelles International School
Praslin, Seychelles
September 2019
Aerial Arts Jeddah
Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
September 2019
West Coast Flying Trapeze
Vancouver, Canada
August 2019
Whistler Gymnastics Treeline Aerial
Whistler, Canada
August 2019
Aerial Arts Jeddah
Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
May 2019
Manchester Aerial and Acro Convention
Manchester, UK
May 2019
Karama Yoga
Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
April 2019
King Abdullah University of Science and Technology Saudi Leadership Program: for leaders and academics at Saudi universities, in collaboration with the University of California, Berkeley
Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
March 2019
Karama Yoga
Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
January - February 2019
Aerial Arts Jeddah
Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
January 2019
King Abdullah University of Science and Technology: Winter Enrichment Program
Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
January 2019
Okanagan Gymnastics Club
Kelowna, Canada
February - April 2018
Okanagan Pole Dance
Kelowna, Canada
March 2018
Delhi Rock
Delhi, India
February 2018
Bounce Trampoline
Doha, Qatar
January 2018
Yama Yoga
Doha, Qatar
2017 - 2018
The Strongbox
Doha, Qatar
2017
Ritz Carlton Sharq Six Senses Spa
Doha, Qatar
2017
Empyrean Arts
Asheville, United States
April 2017
Toy Boat Circus
Asheville, United States
April 2017
Niya Yoga
Doha, Qatar
January - April 2017
Anytime Fitness
Doha, Qatar
March 2017
Lululemon Qatar
Doha, Qatar
February 2017
Vancouver Circus School
Vancouver, Canada
December 2016
Circus West
Vancouver, Canada
December 2016
Steve Nash Fitness Clubs
Vancouver, Canada
December 2016
Calgary Circus Studio
Calgary, Canada
December 2016
North Gymnastics Center
Calgary, Canada
December 2016
Flip Factory
Calgary, Canada
December 2016
Yama Yoga
Doha, Qatar
November 2016
Cat Dance Pole and Aerial Studio
Beijing, China
November 2016
Flip Factory
Calgary, Canada
October 2016
Strut Fitness
Calgary, Canada
October 2016
Calgary Circus Studio
Calgary, Canada
October 2016
Calgary Pole Junkies
Calgary, Canada
September 2016
YMCA Canada
Kelowna, Canada
September 2016
Acro Yoga Unity Festival
Enderby, Canada
August 2016
Lake Country Dance Studio
Lake Country, Canada
August 2016
Lake Country Gymnastics
Lake Country, Canada
August 2016
Studio X
Kelowna, Canada
August 2016
Okanagan Gymnastics Club
Kelowna, Canada
August 2016
Yama Yoga Bulgaria
Veliko Tarnovo, Bulgaria
July 2016
Ritz Carlton Sharq Six Sense Spa
Doha, Qatar
2014 - 2015
Yama Yoga
Doha, Qatar
2014 - 2015
The Strongbox
Doha, Qatar
2013 - 2015
Doha Yogathon
Doha, Qatar
November 2015
Samrya Gardens Dance Studio
Doha, Qatar
November 2015
Dutch Acrobatics Convention
Sittard, Netherlands
May 2015
B/Attitude Dance Studio
Doha, Qatar
2013 - 2014
Acro Yoga Workshop
Doha, Qatar
November 2014
University of Calgary in Qatar
Doha, Qatar
2013
Qatar Canadian School
Doha, Qatar
May 2013
Qatar Sports Day
Doha, Qatar
February 2013
Cadence Fitness
Victoria, Canada
2011 - 2012
Vikes Dance
Victoria, Canada
2008 - 2012
UVic Dance Company
Victoria, Canada
2007 - 2010
Soul Funktion Dance Studio
Whistler, Canada
2006 - 2007
Whistler Gymnastics Club
Whistler, Canada
2006 - 2007
All Canadian Flying Trapeze
Whistler, Canada
July - August 2004
Bungee Trampoline Zone
Whistler, Canada
July - August 2003
*Does not include private classes or workshops.
Education and Formal Training
Diploma of Instructor in Circus Arts
Ecole Nationale de Cirque (ENC)
Montreal, Canada
December 2019
Professional Aerial Program
Gravity Circus Centre
London, UK
May 2016
Master of Business Administration (with distinction)
University of Northampton
Northampton, England
March 2016
Bachelor of Arts, Major in Psychology (with distinction)
University of Victoria
Victoria, Canada
October 2012
Diploma
Victoria School of Performing and Visual Arts
Edmonton, Canada
June 2006
*Certificate copies available upon request.
Training, Workshops, Festivals, and Conventions
Partner Acrobatics Workshop with Niko Douwes
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
November - December 2019
Speaking and Movement Workshop with Davide Marranchelli
Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
October 2019
Canadian Acro Intensive
Vancouver, Canada
August 2019
Okanagan Gymnastics
Kelowna, Canada
July - August 2019
Dutch Acrobatics Preconvention
Beuningen, Netherlands
June 2019
National Center for Circus Arts
London, United Kingdom
May 2019
Aerialife (Aerialand)
London, United Kingdom
May 2019
The Circus House
Manchester, United Kingdom
May 2019
Manchester Aerial and Acro Convention
Manchester, United Kingdom
May 2019
San Francisco Circus Center
San Francisco, United States
April 2019
Leslie Tipton Contortion Training
San Francisco, United States
April 2019
Ascend Aerial Arts
San Francisco, United States
April 2019
San Diego Circus Center
San Diego, United States
April 2019
Womack and Bowman: The Loft
Los Angeles, United States
April 2019
Aerial Physique
Los Angeles, United States
April 2019
Kinetic Theory
Los Angeles, United States
April 2019
The Aerial House
Los Angeles, United States
April 2019
Pitch Catch Circus: School of Acrobatics
Asheville, United States
March 2019
Empyrean Arts
Asheville, United States
March 2019
Hercinia Arts Collective / Toronto Circus Collective
Ecole Nationale de Cirque
Montreal, Canada
February 2019
Victor's Studio
Montreal, Canada
February 2019
Cirque Verdun
Montreal, Canada
February 2019
Catie Briar - The Dos and Don'ts of Teaching Flexibility
Online
April 2018
Okanagan Gymnastics Club
Kelowna, Canada
February - April 2018
Yama Yoga
Doha, Qatar
2017 - 2018
Dylan Werner Yoga Workshop
Doha, Qatar
September 2017
TILT Aerial Festival
Birmingham, UK
July 2017
Pitch Catch Circus: School of Acrobatics
Asheville, United States
April - May 2017
Empyrean Arts
Asheville, United States
April 2017
Milan Pole Dance Studio
Milan, Italy
March 2017
Acro Yoga Workshop with Pascal Weiss
Doha, Qatar
February 2017
Yoga Workshop with John Scott
Doha, Qatar
November 2016
Beijing International Arts School
Beijing, China
October - November 2016
Cat Dance Pole and Aerial Studio
Beijing, China
October 2016
Acro Yoga Unity Festival
Enderby, Canada
August 2016
Yama Yoga Bulgaria Teacher Training
Veliko Tarnovo, Bulgaria
July 2016
Edinburgh Acrobatics Training
Edinburgh, UK
June 2016
Irish Aerial Dance Festival
Letterkenny, Ireland
June 2016
Dutch Acrobatics Preconvention
Beuningen, Netherlands
May 2016
Gravity Circus Centre
London, UK
January - May 2016
Pineapple Dance Studios (Professional and Advanced)
London, UK
January - May 2016
London Dance Academy
London, UK
January - May 2016
Contortion and Contortion Doubles Training with Pixie Le Knot
London, UK
January - May 2016
Manchester Partner Acrobatics Training
Manchester, UK
April 2016
Yama Yoga
Doha, Qatar
2013 - 2015
Irish Aerial Dance Festival
Letterkenny, Ireland
June 2015
Pole Fit Dubai
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
June 2015
Acro Yoga Dubai
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
June 2015
Dutch Acrobatics Convention
Sittard, Netherlands
May 2015
Dutch Acrobatics Preconvention
Beuningen, Netherlands
May 2015
Michael Gannon Yoga Workshop
Doha, Qatar
November 2014
Acro Yoga Workshop
Doha, Qatar
November 2014
Qatar Exhibition Center Circus and Flying Trapeze
Doha, Qatar
September 2014
Yoga Intensive Retreat
Veliko Tarnovo, Bulgaria
July 2014
Acro Yoga Lunar Immersion
Bali, Indonesia
March 2014
Association for Yoga and Meditation Yoga Teacher Training
Rishikesh, India
January - February 2014
Anand Prakash Yoga Ashram
Rishikesh, India
January 2014
Victoria Contemporary Dance Company
Victoria, Canada
2011 - 2012
Cadence Fitness
Victoria, Canada
2010 - 2012
UVic Dance Company
Victoria, Canada
2007 - 2010
Edge Performing Arts Center
Los Angeles, United States
March 2010
Edge Performing Arts Center
Los Angeles, United States
March 2008
Lecky School of Dancing
Edmonton, Canada
2003 - 2006
Victoria Cheerleading Team
Edmonton, Canada
2003 - 2006
Victoria Pom Dance Team
Edmonton, Canada
2003 - 2006
All Canadian Flying Trapeze
Whistler, Canada
1995 - 2006
NCA Cheerleading
Portland, United States
July 2005
Storm Gymnastics Team
Whistler, Canada
2000 - 2003
Whistler Dance Academy
Whistler, Canada
1995 - 2003
BC Provincial Level Gymnast Whistler Gymnastics
Whistler, Canada
1995 - 2003
