Melissa Marti is originally from Madison, Wisconsin. Her love of dance began there at the Wisconsin Academy of Ballet. Impressionable performances were with the Wisconsin Dance Ensemble and Jazzworks Dance Company. She continued her studies at the University of Utah in the Ballet Department and later graduated from Indiana University, earning a Bacholars of Science in Ballet Performance. Upon graduation she joined USA Ballet. Her move to New York in the past year has led to guesting with New York Dance Theatre and work with independant choreographers. This is her first season with Octavia Cup.