Big Feelings with Melody Mendoza

Big Feelings with Melody Mendoza

From The Ballerinatist by The Ballerinatist

September 10, 2025 · 26 min · Season 6 · Episode 7

About this episode

Melody Mendoza discusses her journey in founding Glorify Performing Arts and the importance of building a strong company culture.

Melody Mendoza, Founder and Artistic Director of Glorify Performing Arts in West Chester, PA, shares about the vision for the company which launched in 2018, what it took to get started, and how they’re building the foundation for growth. Bio: She studied ballet under Edmund & Irene Novak, later adding jazz and modern, at studios including The Rock School West, The Dance Center, and Koresh School of Dance. Beginning liturgical dance at age 9, she also participated in The Good Samaritan Dance Ministry under Valerie Henry and Gwen Prestwood. After she completed undergraduate dance studies at Palm Beach Atlantic University in 2012, Melody formed a small dance company with Donna FitzPatrick where they choreographed two contemporary, faith based, ballets utilizing ballet, tap and jazz to share stories of Christ’s grace and truth. She received her Pre-Primary – Level 5 certification of American Ballet Theatre’s National Training Curriculum. Melody has worked locally as a musical theatre dance teacher and choreographer at SALT Performing Arts, West Chester Studios for the Performing Arts, and Delaware County Christian School. Melody shares about cultivating a unified company from a…

People in this episode

Guest: Melody Mendoza

Topics covered

  • performing arts
  • dance
  • company growth
  • artistic vision

Keywords

  • ballet
  • jazz
  • modern dance
  • liturgical dance
  • core values

Mentioned in this episode

Products: Art & Faith: A Theology of Making

Books & works: Art & Faith: A Theology of Making

Places: West Chester, PA

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