Gaudino Creative Residencies: Hip-Hop Workshop With Melanie Cotton, Choreographer / Dancer

Melanie Cotton is a Philadelphia-based choreographer, educator, and theater artist with over 20 years of experience in Hip-Hop and street dance. For the past 12 years, she has worked as a faculty member in the Bryn Mawr College Dance Department, where she combines her expertise in choreography and dance education. As a principal dancer and contributing choreographer with Montazh PAC and Rennie Harris: Puremovement, her extensive background in Hip-Hop dance has deeply influenced her creative approach to both choreography and theater. She applies these skills to her work as a professional choreographer and director, seamlessly blending Hip-Hop culture with contemporary artistic expression. Dedicated to preserving and sharing the cultural history of Hip-Hop, Melanie emphasizes both technical skill and the historical significance of the art form in her teaching. Her work, spanning performance, classes, and mentorship, encourages students to connect with Hip-Hop not just as a dance style, but as a powerful cultural movement. Through her guidance, she fosters artistic growth while deepening cultural awareness and understanding of Hip-Hop’s legacy.