Meet Melena Rounis

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Melena Rounis. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Alright, so we’re so thrilled to have Melena with us today – welcome and maybe we can jump right into it with a question about one of your qualities that we most admire. How did you develop your work ethic? Where do you think you get it from?
I get my work ethic from my late father for sure! He immigrated from Greece to Canada in the late 60’s by himself as a teenager who didn’t peak English, and made his way on his own building a successful life to be proud of. I saw his determination, motivation and drive, and when I think back now, it was massive, and it was all I knew at that time. He used to say to me, “Work hard, be diplomatic and treat every one with respect, and make sure they treat you the same way because you have nothing with out it.”
He set a great example of ethics and perseverance so much so, for me, that I immigrated to the USA in pursuit of my dreams in 2008 when I joined Cirque du Soleil as a dancer in The Beatles LOVE.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
My professional focus is on Choreography with a special interest in movement for film and television. In my career as a dancer, I had the opportunity to work on many film sets and assist under some exceptional choreographers and directors. Learning their process ignited an extra special interest in me with how you can use not only dance to tell the story but the camera. In 2021 I had my first official movie musical release as Choreographer for a Netflix film called ‘A Week Away’. Beyond grateful to the Supervising Choreographer Paul Becker for trusting me in this role and giving me the opportunity! Since the release of the film, I have worked on projects such as HBO Max’s Peacemaker Assisting with the choreography for the opening title sequence and choreographing on shows such as The Good Doctor (ABC), Charmed (CW) and Motherland; Fort Salem (SyFy). One of the things I find most exciting about being brought in as a Choreographer is that sometimes you aren’t creating solely on dancers or actors! Some of the most unique experiences I have had included choreographing water in a unique way (signed that NDA so that’s all I can say about this) and a multitude of different sized drones for several live R&D projects.
My love of story telling really drives my creative process no matter the occasion, and I’m looking forward to sharing more of my work in 2023!

Be sure to check out ‘Dream Moms’ on the Hallmark Channel starring Tamera Mowry Housley & Chelsea Hobbs airing this Mother’s Day!

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
Looking back, I would say that the three skills, qualities and/or areas of knowledge that were most impactful or useful to me in my journey would have to be listening to and trusting my gut, my drive, & my leadership abilities. The advice I would give those that are early on in their journey in terms of developing or improving upon these skills would be; so much greatness happens outside of your comfort zone. Sometimes opportunities may present themselves and even if they may seem crazy to everyone else, they’re not you. Listen to your intuition and trust your gut in these moments. Remember there is always someone else out there that does what you do but there is only one you so keep focused and push on, no matter how hard things may get at times. Everything is ever changing and you never know what amazingness lays around the corner for you. Lastly, you don’t know what you don’t know so don’t be afraid to take charge with purpose, you’ll learn a lot along the way!
I remember being 25 and opening a drop in dance studio in Vancouver BC with a business partner, which was a huge move as there had only ever been one studio like this in the city, ever! We didn’t know exactly how to do what we were doing but we had a vision, heard the desires of our community and ultimately paved the way for many other young entrepreneurs to go with their gut and create their dreams.

Okay, so before we go we always love to ask if you are looking for folks to partner or collaborate with?
I love creative collaboration! Any person who is motivated with a clear vision and passion for what they do is someone I would love to connect with! The colliding of creative minds is a valuable and exciting time in any production process. As a Choreographer, you are effectively the writer of movement, and it is so fulfilling to be on a team with other creatives who have limitless vision. The stories you can tell and the movement you can write will undeniably evolve in a way that would not be possible with out collaboration!
If you are interested in collaborating with me you can contact me via my website; www.melenarounis.com or on other social platforms under the handle @Melenadance

Contact Info:

Suggest a Story: BoldJourney is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
Leadership Development
Empathy Unlocked: Understanding how to Develop Emotional Intelligence

“Empathy is the starting point for creating a community and taking action. It’s the impetus

Productivity
Where do you get your work ethic from?

We’ve all heard the phrase “work hard, play hard,” but where does our work ethic

Productivity
Boosting Productivity Through Self-Care

When you have a never-ending to-do list it can feel irresponsible to engage in self-care,