Melanie LaPatin

Melanie LaPatin, originally from New York, formed a professional partnership with Tony Meredith in 1981, traveling the world representing the United States 12 times in the Professional World Latin-American Dance Championships. In 2001, they opened a dance studio in Times Square.
Melanie and her partner Tony have taken home over 100 championship titles, including but not limited to becoming the United States Professional Latin Champions, the Dirty Dancing Champions, the 1999 DanceSport World Cup Champions, 4-time Champions of the North American Latin Championships, the World Trophy Title Holders, the American-Swing World Cabaret Dance Champions, 3-time Champions of the “Championship Ballroom Dancing” (Sponsor, PBS), and the Copacabana Mambo Marathon Finalists.

Known on the dance floor as “America’s best loved couple” and recognized for their passion, dedication, artistry, knowledge and originality, this couple’s versatility and experience placed them in an elite category of their own, in a professional partnership which had lasted over 30 years.

Coach and Choreographer
LaPatin is in high demand as a coach of top dancers around the world and as a choreographer for actors in film, television and Broadway.
She has choreographed and appeared on film in such major motion pictures as Dance with Me, The Thomas Crown Affair, Let It Be Me, The Last Days of Disco, What To Expect When You’re Expecting, Angriest Man In Brooklyn, and Leading Ladies.

She has also appeared for 10 seasons as a choreographer on FOX’s So You Think You Can Dance and So You Think You Can Dance Canada.

As a dance coach and choreographer, she has worked with some of the most renowned film and television personalities including Pierce Brosnan, Renee Russo, Robin Williams, Melissa Leo, Vanessa Williams, Tim Robbins, Mary Steenburgen, Sonya Brava, Susan Sarandon, Steven Dorff, Patrick Stewart, Leslie Caron, Jennifer Beals, Harvey Keitel, Campbell Scott, Rob Schneider, Cameron Diaz, Matthew Morrison, Megan Mullally, Russell Crow, Emma Watson and Barbara Walters.

In 2008, she choreographed a photo shoot for Harper’s Bazaar called “Dancing with the Designers” that featured Jessica Biel and high-end designers Vera Wang, Oscar de la Renta, Diane Von Furstenberg, Calvin Klein and Zac Posen.