89 - Melissa McGhee: Secrets of a 13-Time National Champion Dance Coach
Description
Interview date: March 9th, 2025
Episode Summary:
Melissa McGhee, Head Coach of The Ohio State University Dance Team and owner of Lineage Dance Company. With 13 national championships and nearly two decades of experience, Melissa is a leading figure in the collegiate dance world.
Melissa shares her journey from a young studio dancer in Toledo, Ohio, to becoming OSU’s head coach right after graduation, and later, a studio owner. She offers an inside look at the college dance team recruiting process, including timelines, audition requirements, and how OSU fills its highly competitive six open spots each year.
Listeners will gain valuable insight into what coaches look for—technical skill, strong ballet foundation, versatility, professionalism, and a team-first mentality. Melissa discusses the importance of combining studio training with dance team experience, how to stand out in recruitment videos, and why NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) deals are helping dancers earn significant income while in college.
She also emphasizes the role of character, mindset, and energy in selection decisions and offers advice for dancers navigating both performance and academics. This episode delivers essential guidance for dancers, parents, and coaches aiming for success in the collegiate dance world.
Show Notes:
(0:00 ) - Welcome to The Business of Dance Podcast & introduction to Melissa McGhee
(2:10 ) - Melissa’s early dance beginnings in Toledo, Ohio
(4:15 ) - Dancing through high school and joining The Ohio State University Dance Team
(6:30 ) - Transition from dancer to head coach immediately after graduation
(9:10 ) - Building OSU’s nationally recognized program and winning 13 championships
(12:00 ) - Opening Lineage Dance Company in Upper Arlington, Ohio
(14:20 ) - Balancing full-time coaching with running a dance studio
(16:30 ) - How the college dance team recruiting model works
(20:00 ) - Audition timelines, video submissions, and competition for six annual spots
(22:45 ) - What OSU looks for in dancers: training, ballet foundation, versatility, professionalism
(26:15 ) -Importance of combining studio and dance team experience
(28:40 ) -NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) opportunities and how dancers are earning up to $20K annually
(32:00 ) - Core values Melissa instills: hard work, maturity, consistency, kindness
(35:30 ) - Tips for standing out in recruitment videos and following instructions
(38:20 ) -Scholarship opportunities for dance team members
(41:10 )- Managing training schedules, academics, and performances
(44:00 ) - Guest choreographers and style diversity in team training
(47:30 ) - Career paths for dancers after graduation
(50:00 ) - Current challenges in the dance team industry and collaboration solutions
(54:15 ) - Final advice: character matters, the dance world is small, be a good human
(57:00 ) - How to connect with Melissa McGhee
Biography:
A native of Toledo, Ohio, Melissa McGhee is a graduate of The Ohio State University where she obtained a B.S. in Business Administration. She is the current Head Coach of The Ohio State University Dance Team. Under her direction, the team won the program's first ever National Championship in 2018 and has thirteen total to date.
After sixteen years of studio training, she now consults for dance studios and teams nationally and judges for numerous dance competitions including NDA, UDA, AmeriDance, Showcase America, Stage 8, OASSA, and USASF Dance Worlds. Melissa has been a speaker at the Varsity Dance Coaches Conference, National Dance Coaches Association Conference, CLI Studios and Intricate Training for Dancers. She was named National Dance Coaches Association (NDCA) College Coach of the Year in 2020 and served as the NDCA College President from 2020-2022. In 2022, Melissa opened doors to a dance studio in Upper Arlington, OH, Lineage Dance Co.
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