Melina of Daughters of Rhea

It looks like Melina doesn’t really need another 5 star review but here it goes anyways.
I took a belly dance clinic for beginners last week with Melina and it was great! I’m really not a very coordinated person and often times teachers seem to get a tad exasperated with me. I mean I’m sorry but I’ve never done anything like this before so my body is all like «wtf do you think we’re doing here? I can’t move like that»! Melina was not like that at all. She was very patient and positive. I love the jingly skirts we got to wear! It definitely got me into the belly dancing spirit. I hope to start taking classes after the new year.
The studio is a little tricky to find. It’s on the second floor and there is no sign on the door (at least not an obvious one).

I just took a belly dance for brand-​new beginners clinic, taught by Melina. It was really great! Three other ladies and me borrowed hip scarves and learned to do basic arm movements, hip movements, shimmies, circling and walking, and by the end of the class we were able to run through a few routines.
I’m pretty impressed by the way Melina was able to break down the basics for us, making it easy to learn moves that look difficult to master. I did better than I thought I would. The class was small which was nice, since we all had plenty of room to watch ourselves in the wall of mirrors facing the wood-​floored portion of the studio.
(The rest of the studio is arrayed with various cirque equipment, silks and such, which is a separate Unilocal!entity, Moody Street Circus, though Melina also instructs there).
It’s a bit difficult to find the studio for the first time, but it is in the building just about at the corner of Moody and a side street. Find the glass door leading up to some stairs, there will be a «Moody Street Circus» flyer in the window. Walk up to the second floor and the doors will be labeled. It might help to arrive a few minutes early so you can find the space.
Parking is fairly plentiful. You’re lucky if you can grab a street spot on Moody Street, but there are a couple of Waltham Municipal lots where you pay for a space, $ 1 for an hour or $ 2 for many hours, something like that. Make sure you look up where they are or keep out a close watch for the signs along Moody Street when you go.
Thanks, Melina! I’d love to join the beginners class sometime, perhaps next Spring. I’m just too busy checking out lots of activities now, otherwise I’d be back sooner!

Melina is an amazing talented performer in many genres — both circus arts and belly dance, something she has been doing since childhood. Vivacious and dazzling as a performer, Melina also shines as an instructor. She carefully paces her classes to skill levels, always challenging but in a warm, supportive manner. This is top notch training for dancers from the complete novice who wants a new experience to the professional who wants to add polish and pizzazz to her performance. I can’t recommend her highly enough.

Love these classes. Melina is a great teacher, friendly and warm. The classes are well organized, centered either on choreography (regular classes) or more on technique (drills classes) and frequently go longer than the scheduled hour – you can tell she loves what she does! So happy to have found this waltham gem.

Melina is really a fantastic teacher; she welcomes newbies (like me) graciously and teaches with humor, passion, and enthusiasm. There are drill classes offered which encompass all experience levels as well as 3 different skill levels. Drill classes are intense but fun; it’s more of an opportunity to hone technique than the other classes, which work on technique but also involve more choreography throughout the class. Melinda doesn’t brag a lot during class but if you check out her website, you can see her credentials for yourself. Visit a class; bring water, a sense of humor, and you’ll have a blast!

Melina is an amazing instructor, fantastic bellydancer and an all around wonderful person.
Melina is a second (maybe third?) generation bellydancer who specializes in Greco-​Turkish fusion /​aerial tricks etc. She’s part circus performer, part bellydancer and completely amazing! She balances swords on her head and chin — no easy feat! She also dances with daggers, and plays some fierce zills.
I co-​host a fundraiser for the Pan Mass Challenge every year and last year Melina headlined the event for us. Not only did she donate her time and her valuable skills, but she was a wonderful addition to the night, and a huge hit!
I love, love, love Melina and would HIGHLY recommend anyone in Waltham or the surrounding towns check out a class with her when possible!

I guess I can’t keep Melina’s classes a secret any more! She’s the BEST, ever. A great teacher and amazing dancer, she has taught me more than I thought I could achieve, and continues to inspire. Her style might be described as Greco-​Turkish-​gypsy fusion. Try a class, or check out one of her workshops.
If you’re more interested in watching her perform, this is well worth your time. She travels around the world as a belly dancer/​circus performer and enchants audiences everywhere. Locally, make a reservation at Karoun Restaurant when she’s scheduled to perform.
Also check out her circus, Cirque Passion, which she founded with her husband, circus star Sacha Pavlata. World-​class performances.

Primo bellydancing teacher and performer! Melina teaches me to move parts otherwise thought unknown with humor, taste, wisdom and tons of fun. These classes are one of the highlights of my week and I have made friends with my hips as a result of them. She teaches in Newton on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday nights. Her performances are sublime and she performs at the Karoun and for private functions too.