Melani De Guzman

A multi-hyphenate Filipinx Artist whose work integrates healing justice through all mediums of art.

b.1990

Los Angeles, CA

Acting Coach

Ted Wold

Representation

tbd

An LA native now settling in the Lenape Territory, Melani is an embodied dancer, actor, model, educator, and community space holder. Upon receiving her B.F.A in Dance and Sociology from LOYOLA Marymount, Melani danced as a guest artist for a season in Lula Washington Dance Theatre before traveling to Israel to study under Kibbutz Contemporary Dance Company 6 month Masa program. She has performed works by Daniel Ezralow, Barak Marshall, Bernard Brown, and Lilian Barbeito. In 2016 she moved to New York and has worked as a freelance movement artist with choreographers and producers such as Anne Bogart, Prospect Theatre Company, Jesca Prudencio, Megan CURET/CuretPerformanceProject, Raja Feather Kelly, Florence Montmair.

Besides performing for companies and productions, Melani’s movement practice involves collaborating with classical and contemporary musicians. She’s created a duo movement language with Double Bassist, Sarah Favinger; sharing improvised works on reclaiming, rejoicing, and revisiting lineages. Her recent live performance collaborations are Windmeetswest and Charlotte Acevedo. She enjoys collaborating from a place of healing and performing in community spaces that allow accessibility.

Melani has presented her interdisciplinary solo works at Dixon Place, Liberty DanceHall NJ, NYC10, and ArtShareLa, Be The Cure virtually and live. Along with being a movement artist, Melani is a Teaching Artist for Marquis Studios, developing her own therapeutic movement curriculum working with students of all ages and the neuro-diverse. In December 2019, she received her certification in Teachers College Cultural Responsive Pedagogy from Columbia University.

The heart of her work is rooted in healing, sensual embodiment, and social justice. She integrates her diverse practices and collaborative partnerships into site-specific solo works, sound baths, dance films, and movement offerings. Melani reclaims her power and truth by studying somatic movement practices, mysticism through astrology, and community activism. Her evolving purpose is to create potent and inspiring medicine projects, initiatives, works, spaces, movements and elevate the way all bodies exist inclusively.

Recent

2021

Artshare LA

dance Solo work accompanied by charlotte Acevedo on vocals

Fotografiska, NYC

meditation Sound Bath collaboration with florence montmaire

2020

UGNAYAN Dance Intensive

BLM 8:46 (Virtual performance) Solo work music by marc chan

Prospect Theatre Company’s 2020 Musical Theatre Lab

MOVE MEANT DANCER

2019

Lose Change Productions

Export quality, dancer

PARK ARMORY GALA

Iridescent, dancer

Curet Performance Project

ASPECTOS, Dancer

Upcoming

Sept 5 2021 HEALING RETREAT FOR PEOPLE OF COLOR 12-4pm est

The Healing Retreat for People of Color will teach that the ancient practices of yoga, meditation, breathwork and mindfulness as contemporary life support. The inherent substance, meaning, viability and sturdiness that lies within these practices are essential for the health and wellbeing for People of Color.

I’ll be presenting virtually at 2:30 pm est

register for free

SEPT 28 - oct 9 2021 Deep blue sea by bill t jones at park avenue armory

Bill T. Jones returns to Park Avenue Armory to present and perform in the world premiere of his massive new work, Deep Blue Sea, which revolves around the interplay of single and group identities. Jones, Janet Wong, and the Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Company conceived this highly personal work in pursuit of the elusive “we” during these fractious times through a cast of 100 dancers/community members, and a deconstructed text from Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” and Herman Melville’s Moby Dick.

Currently performing as a guest dance captain

Monday–Thursday at 7:30pm
Friday–Saturday at 8:00pm
Sunday at 3:00pm
Tickets start at $40 (plus fees)

purchase tickets here

Engage with me through IG @Breathemelani

I want to make art, Artie, and I want to make trouble. You in?

Dear self: I fucking trust you. You courageous hot shit. Love, Melani

They asked to answer “how are you really doing” in character of the role I’m submitting for. The role is sardonic, swimming in anxiety, and currently experiencing postpartum depression. While I may never know what the last one really means, I can only imagine. Here’s me applying myself as best as I can. #selftapes #slates #selfintroduction #shareyourself #scorpioseason

Be the kind of artist that people move their seats for just so they can keep taking in your greatness

Still in awe of how far I’ve come as an artist here in NYC. Deeply humbled to work alongside @billtjonesarniezaneco and @parkavearmory’s loving production crew to make #PAADEEBLUESEA finally happen. ⠀ The lessons will continue unearthing in me as I continue slowly processing the impact we made here in NYC. ⠀ Performing today looks extremely different than performing at the beginning of the year. Being a full time freelance performer isn’t all glory and fame. So I want to share some of the wisdom that came through: ⠀ •There’s a responsibility that comes with showing up daily even if it feels like your part isn’t that big. On the grand scheme of things, it fucking matters. ⠀ •It just vibes differently but much more captivating when you’re in space with all bodies, movers of all backgrounds, and disabled Folx. I’ve learned so much performing with people who are very different from me ⠀ •The choice to hold yourself with integrity knowing social life goes down during a booked contract. It’s a responsibility to protect your cast and make sure you’re staying safe because COVID is still alive and out there. ⠀ •You don’t have to force any kind of mood to perform in front of 900 people. It’s an art to use fluctuating emotions and to discern wisely how much to give. ⠀ •Most of the time, the most powerful choice is to deeply listen even when you’re lost in translation ⠀ •I spoke for my ancestors every single night during the “I KNOW” and it was liberating indeed ⠀ •I love being in spaces with Filipinos PERIODT 🌊 🌊 🌊 🌊 🌊 🌊

Happy Indigenous Peoples Day ⠀ In honor of #FilipinoHistoryMonth, I’m excited to be partnering up with kapwa @pjinmotion to create a brave space to come together and drop in our shared senses. Paul will be leading Kapwa Yoga and I will be giving a sound bath as a sacred practice. ⠀ @kapwa.yoga is a movement and mindfulness practice that uses indigenous Filipino/x/a wisdom of kapwa, or shared inner self, to remember that we are all interconnected. ⠀ You don’t have to be Filipino to join. We welcome everyone from all backgrounds. In fact, it would mean a lot to have anyone who respects and honors our culture to be in space with us. ⠀ When 📆 : Saturday October 16 2021 Where 📍: 29-05 21st Ave, 1st Floor, Astoria, NY 11105 Time 🕰: 6:30-8:30 pm Tickets 🎟: $20-30 ⠀ Link is in my bio to register ⠀ Schedule: 6:30 registration 6:45 meditation begins 7-7:50 yoga with sound 7:50-8 closing circle 8- onward- socialize and eat ⠀ *This event requires participants to be fully vaccinated and to wear masks during class.

Sending myself some grace today as I call upon more harmonious energy to continue forgiving and releasing. ⠀ Exactly a year ago, I was at a very very depressive state. I was not able to fly home to mourn the loss of my grandma. I started new virtual gigs that supported me financially but not in alignment with my essence. I was seeing people who were attached to the idea of me. I was living with a very harmful person who was had issues smoking and drinking and would treat me like a punching bag. I had too many close friends I poured my energy in. But only a very few really met me where I needed it the most. ⠀ All in the constant theme of being understood but not seen. Through therapy, this was a wound from my childhood I’ve been unearthing. The chaos had a message in the long run. It was meant for the spirit to really begin the work of meeting myself underneath the noise that was rupturing. ⠀ A year later, which has already felt like a whole lifetime: I am breathing fuller and slowly taking it all in. ⠀ As drake would remix “I’ve been losing friends and finding peace” yeah fucking literally. Not only close friends, but comfortable jobs, contracts, & commitments. ⠀ I feel so much lighter, happier, and in radiance. I’m taking in this energy to sustain myself in new sacred relationships, collaborations, opportunities etc. ⠀ Today 10/6/2021 I am on set for my very first acting gig booked. I then get to run and perform to another sold out show of #PAADEEPBLUESEA tonight for performance #6. 💖💖💖💖💖🎃🥳 📸 @_whiteprince_

Today is a grand ass day. First off, it’s dedicated to my mom, Margaret Ambrosio. It’s her 60th birthday. And I had all these grand wild plans such as taking her to the motherland etc. But pandemic life is wild and it’s an extraordinary time. So I’m celebrating here in NYC by opening one of the biggest dance production that’s been years in the making under Bill T Jones vision coming to life. ⠀ From starting this process in Feb 2020- to coming back this summer to a whole new cast where I got the opportunity to be a dance captain and fill a whole new set of Folx has been fulfilling. To come back in space and apply all that I’ve culminated being an activist, ally, and community fighter in this city feels a lot like leaving it on stage and praying an ode to #MLK ⠀ Tonight we open the world premier of #PAADEEPBLUESEA sharing the stage with bestie @mmmllloyd among such such mind-blowing cast of @billtjonesarniezaneco and @msjanetwong + old company ⠀ Design Architects @diller_scofidio_renfro @alexknezo_ Collaboration: @holland.andrews @theneogriot @hprizm Sound: @nick_hallett + vocalist Manager & graceful tech moms: Jessica Wasilewski, Belynda M baye ⠀ Milling Cypher till the end of time : @hsiangru.yu @mayaorchin @marionspencer @jkippster @joshua.leon.eguia @julia___ghoulia @hermosaherbosa @donnadancediary @maxxeva @jaycarlon @movementbyjae @beauzey @air.in.the.land.of.water @ariellembeck @serenachang3 @s.danicole @asiannerd5 @mendance2 @hallowdreamz @nattieclo +so much more MERDE 💯💯💯 #newyorkisback

Serving you deep transformation happening on a molecular level. House of @saint.vegan fashion show walking f/w 2022 collection! Can’t thank @itsivanhunty and the production team enough for this dazzling opportunity! ⠀ Venue: @3dollabill Backstage manager: @mary_s_vamps MUA director: @skininthebigcity Sponsored: @aveda Hair & MUA: @dakotamalacara @shannoncaseymua Press coverage: @tenzmag @jabjaytay ⠀ ⠀ #NYFW #aapi #filipinamodel #performer #fashion #liveshow #newyorkcity #dancer #sustainability

So long #hotgirlsummer Officially saying goodbye to the old skin, past me, letting her go with discernment & gratitude. 📸 @_whiteprince_

Let me re-introduce myself 🙏 Hi I’m Melani. I’m a filipinA/x first gen american. I was born in San Fernando Valley somewhere in Los Angeles. From the age of 4 to 8, I lived in the Philippines 🇵🇭 with Grandparents. Where I was placed in pageants, learned from nuns, and basically grew up with VERY catholic education. I had a maid or four. I was spoiled as shit. I had lice. I went on so many street adventures. I would come home to boxes of toys from America while the maid handed me ice cold avocado 🥑 shake. ⠀ I would play all day by myself and allow the imagination to take me places. I will never forget cooking with grandma and maid, getting very deep in consciousness at the age of 7 questioning who we were behind our eyes. I began seeking the divinity behind every physical form. I would look at them in the eyes and try to feel the spirit. ⠀ Reality set in. Melancholia took over. I wanted to be with my family. Coming back to America was hard. My English sucked. I wasn’t placed in esl classes. Grades 3-8th were the most painful times of existing. ⠀ I spent 20s living in 10+ leases, with over 20 roommates, traveling mostly for dance and maybe sometimes leisure. I moved to NYC at 25 where I found myself again. ⠀ I come from the arts, I teach wellness in all kinds of forms. I was committed to being a technical performer. Today I’m committed to healing justice. ⠀ I’m 30 and it’s all shifting. I’m integrating all the hard lessons from 2017-2021. I use astrology, mysticism, body work, Filipino diaspora studies, and movement to deal with life in a physical form. ⠀ I’m an artist through and through. I love being in front of a camera whether it’s dancing, acting, or making a fool out of my self. I want people who look like me & know that they too can be their most authentic self any any moment throughout the day. ⠀ I want to be a living example of someone who just does it differently. ⠀ My privilege and background is different from yours but our suffering is interconnected. So let’s work to coexist and “move at the speed of trust”@adriennemareebrown 📸 @_whiteprince_

Midweek Reminder: Don’t dilute myself. Good god please don’t. I am brandy meant to be consumed from the bottle. Messy, mind altering, too strong for most. - @thebrookesolis 📸 @martinshit