Merissa Gassel

Summer Intensive

Originally from St. Louis, Missouri, Merissa grew up as a competition kid, assisting and touring with conventions since the young age of 14 . Her professional career began at 15 when she was given the opportunity to dance as a member of IV Dance Company. Soon after, she performed as a principal dancer in Justin Giles’ Soulescape and Tessandra Chavez’s Unity LA. As a young dancer in these three companies, she was given the opportunity to train and perform coast to coast. Since then, Merissa worked as assistant choreographer to Mandy Moore on halftimes for both the Liberty Bowl and the Orange Bowl featuring "Train". In addition, she assisted on the opening number of Nigel Lythgoe's Dizzy Feet Foundation Gala and Capezio's 125th Anniversary show held at New York's City Center.

While living in Los Angeles for 9 years, Merissa performed in many live stage shows as well as television, including ABC's "The Secret Life of An American Teenager"'. Since relocating to Nashville, she performed with Jake Owen on this CMT performance of "Real Life" as well as Dan+Shay's "Steal my love" music video. Her appreciation for growing up in a dance studio, along with being given many opportunities at a young age, brought out her strong desire to teach and help mold young dancers. Merissa found her "home" teaching at DC Dance Factory in 2014. After teaching on Adrenaline Dance Convention for 7 years, she currently teaches Jazz on its "sister" convention, Revive. This allows her to travel and share her knowledge, love and passion for movement with students across the country.