Dr. Melissa Blanco Borelli

Associate Professor

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Biography

Melissa Blanco Borelli is an Associate Professor and Director of the Dance Program at Northwestern University, with a focus on dance performance studies, choreography, and cultural criticism. She has held positions at various renowned institutions such as MIT and the University of Surrey. Her research emphasizes the intersectionality of Blackness and Latin America, critically engaging with Black performance theory and digital humanities. As a Principal Investigator for a UK Arts and Humanities Research Council project, Blanco Borelli has worked on developing web-based digital archives that aid Afro-Colombian indigenous communities affected by conflict. She is an accomplished author, with her forthcoming book, 'Aesthetics Displacement: Movement, Archives, Performance Contemporary Colombia,' and recipient of several prestigious awards, including the De la Torre Bueno Prize and the Theatre Performance Research Association Edited Collection Prize. Her scholarly work appears in numerous journals and she actively contributes to various academic publications and editorial boards. As a polyglot and musician, she also shares her love for fitness and running.

Research Interests

Experience

Associate Professor; Director Dance

— Present

Northwestern University • Evanston, IL

Teaching and overseeing the Dance Program, focusing on integrating research and practice in dance performance.

Faculty Member

— Present

MIT, University of Surrey, Royal Holloway, University of London, University of Maryland •

Contributed to dance and performance studies research and education.

Awards

#

De La Torre Bueno Prize®

#

Honorable Mention

#

Edited Collection Prize

Requirements for Northwestern University

Doctorate Program
Requirements
GPA Requirement
Required:3
TOEFL
Total
Required:90
IELTS
Overall
Required:7
Prerequisites
U.S. Bachelor's degree or equivalent
Application Checklist
  • Online application
  • Transcripts
  • Letters of recommendation
  • Statement of purpose
  • Resume/CV
  • TOEFL/IELTS scores (if applicable)
Specialization Notes

Standard PhD requirements for TGS departments including Chemistry, Physics, and Sociology.