Melissa Pastrana
- Actress
- Director
- Producer
Melissa Pastrana, a multifaceted artist, was born in Queens, New York, and spent much of her life in Miami Beach, Florida before relocating to Los Angeles. Growing up in a creatively inclined family, Melissa's grandfather was a poet, her parents excelled as competitive disco dancers. Her brother, Jason Pastrana, is a Senior Concept Artist for animation and action films who won a Costume Designers Guild Award in the category of Excellence in Costume Illustration for the Netflix trilogy "Rebel Moon - Part One: A Child of Fire" directed by Zack Snyder, staring Sofia Boutella, Djimon Hounsou, Anthony Hopkins, Ed Skrein, Charlie Hunnam, Bae Donna, Ray Fisher and Michiel Huisman.
Melissa's artistic journey began early. As a child, she performed at local events and graced the pages of six Star-Styled Dancewear Magazines as a professional child model alongside former Pussycat Doll, Jessica Sutta. Her talent caught the attention of TV shows like Sabado Gigante on Univision Network and Star Search. She also made appearances with Walt Disney Productions, "Pow Wow", as a child dancer and Disney Family Cruise, as an adult mom model with renown photographer David Roark.
Her ballet training commenced under the guidance of artistic directors Tony Catanzaro and Lizette Piedra at the Ballet Academy of Miami. In 1996, Melissa's musical theater and acting abilities impressed four-time Tony Award Winner Jerry Zaks during her performance at the Belvoir Terrace Summer Arts Program.
During her undergraduate years, Melissa received a full scholarship to train at the world-renowned Miami City Ballet School. There, she honed her skills under the esteemed Edward Villella, who had collaborated with George Balanchine himself. Her instructors, as a young versatile dancer, included Nancy Raffa, Jimmy Gamonet, and Violette Verd whom are all in history books. She continued to expand her formal dance training at the prestigious Miami City Ballet School for approximately eight years before earning an invitation to become an Apprentice with the Miami City Ballet Company under the mentorship of Nancy Raffa.
During her college years, Melissa received the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute Scholarship Award for her outstanding community service. She pursued her undergraduate studies in the Performing Arts at the New World School of the Arts/University of Florida, majoring in Musical Theater and Dance/Choreography. Her Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) degree encompassed a mastery of various dance styles, including Vaganova and Neo-classical ballet, Jose Limon, Martha Graham modern techniques, Afro-Caribbean, Jazz Funk, Ballroom, and even Hip-Hop and Character Dancing. Her comprehensive curriculum covered Laban Movement, Music Theory, Music/Dance History, Dance Composition, Kinesiology, Pilates, Dance Teaching Methods, and Grant Writing.
During the same period, Melissa was selected for "The Search for the Next Pussycat Doll" music group, advancing through final cuts and performing for television judges on "So You Think You Can Dance" during the preliminary competition. In her final year at the New World School of the Arts, Melissa graced the stage with the Florida Grand Opera. She appeared as the principal dancer in productions such as "Samson Et Dalila", "La Traviata" and played both actor and dancer roles in "Turandot", "Aida" and "Manon Lescaut"
Melissa Pastrana, merging her dance choreography with martial arts, transitioned into a stunt choreographer for short films. Subsequently, she graced three conservative seasons of EstrellaTV's Mi Sueño Es Bailar, a Spanish television show on the Liberman Broadcasting Network (akin to Dancing with the Stars). Based in Burbank, California, Melissa achieved remarkable success by transforming her comedian, "non-dancer" partner, Don Cheto, into the triumphant champions of Season 1. This victory garnered widespread attention, resulting in features across numerous magazines, newspapers, and TV interviews. Notable publications include People Magazine en Español, Miami New Times, LA Times, Wedding Style Magazine Germany, Huffington Post, and Periodico USA, among others.
Inspired by her accomplishments, Melissa returned for Mi Sueño es Bailar, Season 2, partnering with actor/model Hector Soberon, and later with comedian Gerardo Gallardo. These experiences fueled her passion for television and film, leading her to explore opportunities in both California and Florida.
Melissa's artistic journey extends beyond entertainment as an avid athlete. She participated in the prequalifying competition of American Ninja Warrior in 2015, showcasing her athleticism. With a minimum of 2 decades in entertainment industry, she has also delved into other multidisciplinary athletic training. Her pursuits include Kendo, Jiu-Jitsu with the Valente Brothers, Russian Systema Martial Arts by Alexandr Popeskou, and Iaido (Japanese Swordsmanship Martial Arts), where she achieved her first rank at the Institute of Budo Studies.
Additionally, she actively supports visual and theater arts, attending events at Art Basel, Miami City Ballet, Actor's Playhouse on Miracle Mile, and various film festivals. Her commitment to advocacy led her to speak at the largest Women's Economic Forum in India, championing women's rights.
Melissa Pastrana, a trailblazer, achieved a historic milestone during her graduate studies. She became the first female to earn a Master of Fine Art degree in Filmmaking from the New York Film Academy, South Beach. Remarkably, this accomplishment occurred shortly after the devastating impact of Hurricane Irma.
Melissa's esteemed instructors and mentorship included Emmy and Peabody Winner Miguel Parga and Hershal Faber, recipient of The Academy Nicholl Fellowship Award, among other luminaries where she found a new love for stage, film, tv producing, camera operation, motion design and a member of the IATSE Local 700, Motion Pictures Editors Guild as a Montage, Trailer, Feature Film Editor.
For further details about Melissa Pastrana's educational background or experience, please visit her website.
Melissa's artistic journey began early. As a child, she performed at local events and graced the pages of six Star-Styled Dancewear Magazines as a professional child model alongside former Pussycat Doll, Jessica Sutta. Her talent caught the attention of TV shows like Sabado Gigante on Univision Network and Star Search. She also made appearances with Walt Disney Productions, "Pow Wow", as a child dancer and Disney Family Cruise, as an adult mom model with renown photographer David Roark.
Her ballet training commenced under the guidance of artistic directors Tony Catanzaro and Lizette Piedra at the Ballet Academy of Miami. In 1996, Melissa's musical theater and acting abilities impressed four-time Tony Award Winner Jerry Zaks during her performance at the Belvoir Terrace Summer Arts Program.
During her undergraduate years, Melissa received a full scholarship to train at the world-renowned Miami City Ballet School. There, she honed her skills under the esteemed Edward Villella, who had collaborated with George Balanchine himself. Her instructors, as a young versatile dancer, included Nancy Raffa, Jimmy Gamonet, and Violette Verd whom are all in history books. She continued to expand her formal dance training at the prestigious Miami City Ballet School for approximately eight years before earning an invitation to become an Apprentice with the Miami City Ballet Company under the mentorship of Nancy Raffa.
During her college years, Melissa received the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute Scholarship Award for her outstanding community service. She pursued her undergraduate studies in the Performing Arts at the New World School of the Arts/University of Florida, majoring in Musical Theater and Dance/Choreography. Her Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) degree encompassed a mastery of various dance styles, including Vaganova and Neo-classical ballet, Jose Limon, Martha Graham modern techniques, Afro-Caribbean, Jazz Funk, Ballroom, and even Hip-Hop and Character Dancing. Her comprehensive curriculum covered Laban Movement, Music Theory, Music/Dance History, Dance Composition, Kinesiology, Pilates, Dance Teaching Methods, and Grant Writing.
During the same period, Melissa was selected for "The Search for the Next Pussycat Doll" music group, advancing through final cuts and performing for television judges on "So You Think You Can Dance" during the preliminary competition. In her final year at the New World School of the Arts, Melissa graced the stage with the Florida Grand Opera. She appeared as the principal dancer in productions such as "Samson Et Dalila", "La Traviata" and played both actor and dancer roles in "Turandot", "Aida" and "Manon Lescaut"
Melissa Pastrana, merging her dance choreography with martial arts, transitioned into a stunt choreographer for short films. Subsequently, she graced three conservative seasons of EstrellaTV's Mi Sueño Es Bailar, a Spanish television show on the Liberman Broadcasting Network (akin to Dancing with the Stars). Based in Burbank, California, Melissa achieved remarkable success by transforming her comedian, "non-dancer" partner, Don Cheto, into the triumphant champions of Season 1. This victory garnered widespread attention, resulting in features across numerous magazines, newspapers, and TV interviews. Notable publications include People Magazine en Español, Miami New Times, LA Times, Wedding Style Magazine Germany, Huffington Post, and Periodico USA, among others.
Inspired by her accomplishments, Melissa returned for Mi Sueño es Bailar, Season 2, partnering with actor/model Hector Soberon, and later with comedian Gerardo Gallardo. These experiences fueled her passion for television and film, leading her to explore opportunities in both California and Florida.
Melissa's artistic journey extends beyond entertainment as an avid athlete. She participated in the prequalifying competition of American Ninja Warrior in 2015, showcasing her athleticism. With a minimum of 2 decades in entertainment industry, she has also delved into other multidisciplinary athletic training. Her pursuits include Kendo, Jiu-Jitsu with the Valente Brothers, Russian Systema Martial Arts by Alexandr Popeskou, and Iaido (Japanese Swordsmanship Martial Arts), where she achieved her first rank at the Institute of Budo Studies.
Additionally, she actively supports visual and theater arts, attending events at Art Basel, Miami City Ballet, Actor's Playhouse on Miracle Mile, and various film festivals. Her commitment to advocacy led her to speak at the largest Women's Economic Forum in India, championing women's rights.
Melissa Pastrana, a trailblazer, achieved a historic milestone during her graduate studies. She became the first female to earn a Master of Fine Art degree in Filmmaking from the New York Film Academy, South Beach. Remarkably, this accomplishment occurred shortly after the devastating impact of Hurricane Irma.
Melissa's esteemed instructors and mentorship included Emmy and Peabody Winner Miguel Parga and Hershal Faber, recipient of The Academy Nicholl Fellowship Award, among other luminaries where she found a new love for stage, film, tv producing, camera operation, motion design and a member of the IATSE Local 700, Motion Pictures Editors Guild as a Montage, Trailer, Feature Film Editor.
For further details about Melissa Pastrana's educational background or experience, please visit her website.
