Melissa Almaguer is a multidisciplinary artist from Mexico based in New York City, with tap dance as her primary instrument. Her work centers on improvisation and the use of tap dance to explore sound, movement, and interaction. As bandleader of several improvisation-driven groups—including the Melissa Almaguer Trio and collectives like praesēns and Angel of Water/Angel of Air—she creates immersive, evolving performances. A recipient of The Next Jazz Legacy, Mutual Mentorship for Musicians, and the TIAM Collective Imagining cohort, Melissa approaches each project as a chance to listen, learn, and expand her practice through creative exchange.​

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Her artistic journey is shaped by collaboration, drawing from a diverse range of voices and traditions. From working with musicians like Moor Mother, Irreversible Entanglements, William Parker, and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, to tap pioneers such as Dormeshia, Derick K. Grant, Jason Samuels Smith, Michela Marino Lerman, and Jumaane Taylor, Melissa’s work thrives on a shared commitment to pushing boundaries and exploring new forms of creative expression.

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In just a few years in NYC, she has performed at renowned venues such as Lincoln Center, The Joyce Theater, National Sawdust, Joe’s Pub, Kaufman Music Center, and The Jazz Gallery. As the leader of the Melissa Almaguer Trio and collectives like praesēns and Angel of Water/Angel of Air, she creates immersive environments where sound and movement become sacred rituals for personal and collective healing.

 

Through the productions of Oye Como Va and My Favorite Things in Mexico, Melissa has bridged cultural gaps, introducing tap dance to new audiences in Latin America. She is currently on faculty at Steps On Broadway, where, as both an educator and creator, she is dedicated to sharing the transformative power of tap dance and guiding others on their own journeys of self-exploration and creative expression.