Joan Thomas-Mello is recognized throughout New Bedford and the surrounding communities as a leader in dance education. Certified in early childhood and elementary education, she has taught for New Bedford Public Schools since 1987 in capacities as both classroom teacher and dance facilitator. As a classroom teacher, she has been at the forefront of dance education, using movement in her classroom as a tool to increase academic learning and assisting other teachers as well. Through her after school dance program, Kids On The Move, Ms. Thomas-Mello has introduced hundreds of New Bedford school children to dance and performance. She has created and implemented a variety of dance programs in area schools including, Dance The Story, The Nutcracker, and Poetry Moves.
In 2003, Ms. Thomas-Mello, founded the Children's Dance Ensemble of New Bedford, (CDE), committed co-developing opportunities for New Bedford school children to experience dance as creators and performers. The premiere CDE performance of The Village and the Fishing Net, an original story dance written, directed, and choreographed by Ms.Thomas-Mello, was performed in 2004 at the New Bedford Whaling Museum. Ms. Thomas-Mello is a former faculty member of the New Bedford Ballet (1987-97), where she also served as Director of the Children�s Program from1991-97. She is a graduate of the Hartford Ballet Teacher Training Program, American Dance Festival, and Lesley University, where she earned her M.Ed. in Creative Arts in Learning. Ms. Thomas-Mello has written a dance curriculum for the public schools. Currently, she is beginning preparations for the CDE is 2005 Spring performance of the classic story Peter and the Wolf !
Founded in 2003, the Children's Dance Ensemble of New Bedford (CDE), is a multiage dance company comprised of children, ages 5-13, enrolled in New Bedford Public Schools. The CDE was created to provide access to New Bedford school children to experience dance as creators and performers and is dedicated solely to the advancement of dance in the public schools and to the development of dance performances performed by the children of the New Bedford Public Schools.
the village and the fishing net