COMMISSIONS: CHOREOGRAPHY & RESIDENCIES

Every Window Has a View

A dance of longing, flight, and discovery inspired by the Blue Ridge Mountains and wind in our hair. Dancers move in conversation with a billowing blue tarp—an undulating landscape, a shifting horizon, a tether to both past and possibility.

premiered February 2025 with Contemporary Dance Ensemble (Orem, UT)

restaged March 2025 with Junior Repertory Company (Jackson Hole, WY)

  • Director & Choreographer: Melissa Younker

    Contemporary Dance Ensemble Cast & Collaborators: Leah Ahlander, McKayla Browning, Kaarina Garlick, Lilly Harmer, Abigail Jenson, Zachary Marshall, Grace Messenger, Antonella Miles, Heather Morley, McKenzie Olson, Manny Santos, Ashley Wilcox

    Music Director: Nate Anderson

    Music Performance: Leah Ahlander, Grace Messenger, Heather Morley, Ashley Wilcox

    Costumes: Melissa Younker with UVU Costume Shop

    Lighting Design: Peter Leonard with Melissa Younker

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    Junior Repertory Company Cast & Collaborators: Piper Benjamin, Emma Boillot, Mira Borrego, Thea Goss, Aundra Guttormson, Delilah Irby, Caroline Korpi, Sadie Mae LaPrade, Lottie MacGregor, Rylie Mollinet, Frances Reid, Mairi Schilling, Aila Smith Wetzler, Fern Varga, Izzy Visosky

    Special Thanks: Babs Case, Luke Dakota Zender, Michaela Ellingson & Bailey Walker

Flock, Fracture, Forge

I’ve seen this world, where love and harmony allow imagination to become reality. 

premiered March 2024

Utah Valley University’s Contemporary Dance Ensemble (Orem, UT)

  • Co-Creators: Brian Gerke and Melissa Younker

    Choreography & Performance: Lilly Barrington, McKayla Browning, Emma Crow, Ciera Erekson, Aubrey Fisher, Zachary Marshall, Heather Morley, Emery Nielson, Richelle Rindlisbacher, Manny Santos, Olivia Stewart, Ashley Wilcox, Gabby Williams, and Maile Yukiko 

    Original Music: Insurgent Beat Machine

    Lighting Design: William Petersen

    Costumes: Melissa Younker w/ UVU Costume Shop

While the Sun Still Burns

premiered March 2023

Utah Valley University’s Contemporary Dance Ensemble (Orem, UT)

  • Director & Choreographer: Melissa Younker

    Choreography & Performance:  Quinn Coates, Kamryn Daughters, Darcie Day, Ciera Erekson, Melanie Grob, Sarah Hutchinson, Hope King, Alli Kirk, Zachary Marshall, Heather Morley, Savannah Petersen, Ethan Pitcher, Lexie Pitcher & Richelle Rindlisbacher 

    Original Music Composition: Michael Wall 

    Text: If Time is Real written and read by Darcie Day 

    Lyrics: Michael Wall, Melissa Younker & CDE Dance Artists 

    Costumes: Melissa Younker with UVU Costume Shop

Me, Seeing You, See Me

premiered March 2022

Utah Valley University’s Contemporary Dance Ensemble (Orem, UT)

  • Director & Choreographer: Melissa Younker

    Choreography & Performance: Camry Blackhurst, Kamryn Daughters, Darcie Day, Ciera Erekson, Lexie Johnson, LeGrande Lolo, Rachel Miller, Heather Morley, Jadyn Nelms, Savannah Petersen, Ethan Pitcher, Katelynne Wade, Holly Ward & Estie Weisler 

    Ukulele: Darcie Day 

    Vocal Coach: Elijah Hancock 

    Costumes: Melissa Younker with UVU Costume Shop

Deliquesce

Deliquesce, is an anthology dance film compiled of six chapters of abstract imagery and storytelling made in collaboration with 6 choreographers.

premiered August 2021

And Artists & Blank Space

  • Choreography: Chapter 1 “Melted” by Melissa Younker

    Choreography & Performance: Ursula Perry, Masio Sangster & Bailey Sill

    Costumes: Melissa Younker

    Film Editor: Rebecca Aneloski

The Ladies Room

A comedy/musical short about the supportive drunk women of ladies rooms past.

premiered 2021

Pant Suit Pictures

  • Director & Producer: Amanda Stoddard

    Writer & Producer: Marta Reeder

    Director of Choreography & Producer: Melissa Younker

    Original Music: The Zissous

    Cast: Carolyn Taylor Bosco, Archie Crisanto, Wendy Dang, Jorji Diaz Fadel, Ava Kostia

    Art Director: Sarah Reeder

    Director of Photography: Angela Rosales Challis

    Assistant Director & Editor: Taylor Mott

    Camera: Patrick Ryan Gass

    Camera Assistant: Patrick Newman

    Gaffer: Alec Lyons

    Grip: Jenny Lund

    Production Sound Mixer: Jeff Kimball

    Production Assistant: Mimi Schneider

    Make-up Artist: Kaylie Auer

    On-set Photographer: Jimmy Stoddard

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