BIO
Michelle Alves is a dancer, singer, actress and choreographer born and raised in Puerto Rico. She started her professional dancer career at the early age of 16 traveling around the world with the World Salsa Congress and many Latin-American singers. Had the privilege to work as a dancer, choreographer and assistant choreographer in very important award shows performing with recognized celebrities like The Black Eyed Peas, Pitbull, Nelly Furtado and Ricky Martin among others, and at the same time working in many local and regional theatre productions.
Michelle graduated from Sacred Heart University in San Juan, PR in 2004. In 2011, after 12 years as a commercial dancer, Michelle moved to New York to focus on her true passion and live her dream. In 2012 Michelle got her first National Tour playing her dream role as the energetic and vivacious Anita in the unforgettable masterpiece West Side Story (2012-2014) in which was recognized as Best Featured Actress in a Musical (Touring Company) by Broadway World Pantages Theatre, LA. In summer 2015, Michelle became a proud member of the Actor’s Equity Association. On May 2017 Michelle Alves made her Broadway debut in On Your Feet.
RESUME
Michelle M. Alves
Height: 5’2
Weight: 118 lbs
Voice: Mezzo Soprano/ Alto/ Belt G- high A
Hair: Light Brown
Eyes: Brown
AEA member
Musical Theatre
| On Your Feet Broadway Dir. Jerry Mitchell Chor. Sergio Trujillo / Maria Torres | Swing | Marquis Theatre, NY |
| Motown National Tour Dir. Schele Williams / Charles Randolph-Wright Chor. Patricia Wilcox/Warren Adams | Claudette / Landlady / Billie JB / Teena Marie | Work Light Productions 2017 |
| West Side Story National Tour Dir: David Saint Chor: Jerome Robbins / Joey McKneely | Anita | Troika Entertainment |
| Carmen Dir: Moisés Kaufman | Fina / Carmen us | Olney Theatre, MD |
| West Side Story | Anita | Lamb's Player Theatre, CA |
| Godspell | Turn Back O' Man | The Palace Theatre, NH |
| West Side Story | Anita | The Palace Theatre, NH |
| Chicago Dir: Carl Rajotte Chor: Carl Rajotte | June | The Palace Theatre, NH |
| Hairspray Dir: Paula Sloan Chor: Paula Sloan | Dynamite / Lorraine | Jersey Shore Entertainment |
| Hairspray Dir: Carl Rajotte Chor: Carl Rajotte | Little Inez / Dynamite | The Palace Theatre, NH |
| Nine Dir: Miguel Rosa -Lopez Chor: Michelle Alves | Anabella | Arts Productions, PR |
| Hair Chor: Waldo Gonzalez | Dionne | Viota Productions, PR Dir: Yinoelle Colon |
| Rent Dir: Miguel Rosa -Lopez Chor: Danny Lugo / Michelle Alves | Ensemble | Arts Productions, PR |
Dance
| Ricky Martin | Dancer |
| The Black Eyed Peas | Dancer |
| Nelly Furtado | Dancer |
| Pitbull | Dancer |
| Shakira | Dancer |
| Enrique Iglesias | Dancer |
| Paulina Rubio | Dancer |
| Chayanne | Dancer & Assist Choreographer |
| Luis Fonsi | Dancer |
| Daddy Yankee | Dancer |
| Victor Manuelle | Dancer |
| David Bisbal | Dancer |
| Ednita Nazario | Dancer |
| Olga Tañón | Dancer |
| Juan Luis Guerra | Dancer |
Film
| Dirty Dancing 2: Havana Nights Starring: Diego Luna & Romola Garai Dir: Guy Ferland Chor: JoAnn Fregalette Jansen | Cuban Bar Dancer (Rosa Negra) | Miramax Entertainment |
| Feel The Noise Starring: Omarion Dir: Alejandro Chomski Chor: Pedro Aviles | Dancer (Dance Club Battle) | Tristar Films |
Live Performances / Videos
| Latin Billboard Awards | Dancer & Choreographer |
| Latin Grammy Awards | Dancer & Assist Choreographer |
| ESPN Awards | Dancer |
| People Awards | Dancer |
| Premios Lo Nuestro | Dancer & Assist Choreographer |
| World Salsa Congress | Dancer & Assist Choreographer |
| Salsa & Hustle Congress | Dancer |
| Luis Fonsi DVD Concert | Dancer & Assist Choreographer |
Awards
– Best Featured Actress in a Touring Production 2012-2013; Anita “West Side Story”BroadwayWorld.com Pantages Theatre, LA
– Outstanding Featured Performance in a Musical (nomination); Anita “West Side Story” Craig Noel Awards, San Diego Critics Circle 2015
– Best Supporting Actress in a musical 2016 IRNE awards; Anita “West Side Story”
Training
Dance (Jazz, Street Jazz, Hip Hop, Salsa, Chacha, Mambo, Cuban Rumba, Hustle, Tap)
Broadway Dance Center: Joshua Bergasse, David Marquez, Jason Marquette, Cecilia Marta, Sheila Barker, Maria Torres, Germaine Salsberg, Murakami, Luam, Raphsody
Dance Manhattan: Angel Ortiz
Dance Times Square: Tony Meredith & Melanie Lapatin’s
Rhythms Dance Studio: Danny Lugo, Tamara Livolsi, Tito Ortos, Laura Valentin
Voice
Bettina Sheppard, Michelle Sotomayor, Edmanuel Gonzalez, Jo-Anne Herrero
Acting
Norwill Fragoso, Axel Serrant, Daniel Irizarry
Special Skills
Fluent Spanish and English, drivers license, US passport, cartoonist and portrait artist, works well with children
News
Michelle debuts with Philadelphia Philharmonic
Michelle is happy to announce that she’ll be making her debut with the acclaimed Philadelphia Philharmonic celebrating Leonard Bernstein’s 100th...
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Michelle joins “On Your Feet”
Michelle Alves is more than thrilled and excited to be making her Broadway debut...On Your Feet!
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Michelle wins IRNE Award
On April 2017 Michelle Alves won an IRNE Award for her performance as Anita for North Shore Theatre's production of West Side...
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Michelle joins Broadway National Tour
Michelle Alves will join the 2017 Broadway National tour of Motown.
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Michelle nominated on San Diego Theatre Critics Circle
On January 2016 Michelle Alves received a nomination for the San Diego Theatre Critics Circle, best known as the Noel Craig awards for her performance as Anita at Lamb's Player...
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Michelle joins “Carmen”
Michelle will be a part of Carmen: An Afro Cuban Jazz New Musical. Directed by Moises Kaufman and choreographed by Sergio...
read moreReviews
“Michelle Alves as Anita sometimes stole the show. She exemplifies the talents required of everyone in this production, great dancing, acting ability and a strong vocal range. Her ‘America’ was quirky, offbeat and rhythmically exciting and her duet with Maria in “A boy like that” was one of the high points of the evening.”
– Portland Press Herald
“Michelle Alves, as Anita, steals the show. With just the right amount of swagger and attitude as Bernardo’s girlfriend, her acting was exemplary and her dancing during the dance at the gym was electric.”
– The Examiner, Atlanta
“A word here about Michelle Alves who plays Anita: Not taking anything away from the rest of the cast, but if any of the performers steals the show, it is Alves. I dare to say that Rita Moreno, who famously and fabulously played Anita in the movie, would give a healthy thumbs up.”
– ATL INSIDER, Atlanta
“Anita, played by Michelle Alves, is stupendous! She gives an exciting new freshness to the role in this production that you will endeared to. Her sassiness will make you smile, and her deep angst and trouble make you deeply feel for her on stage. Vocally, her Anita is unmatched and her characterization is spot-on.”
– PEGASUS NEWS, Dallas Forth Worth
“The strongest moments in the show came from Michelle Alves’ Anita who displayed tremendous range and refreshing honesty. She seemed authentic and was brilliant in both the “A boy like that” and Rape at Doc’s Drugstore scenes. She approached the material with sense of “real” and was riveting. Her playfulness and sense of humor in the lighter scenes helped to lift them, without wandering over into’ situation comedy land.”
-Broadwayworld.com, Los Angeles
“One of the evening’s strongest performances-Michelle Alves as Anita. She also strongly resembles to Rita Moreno, who played the role in the 1961 film. Alves worked passion and compassion into nearly every dance move made, every song and line uttered.”
-Courier Journal, Kentucky
“However, Michelle Alves (Anita) who was born and raised in Puerto Rico, infuses every scene she’s in with passion and fire. Her voice is rich, her acting is powerful, and her dancing is top-notch.”
-Broadwayworld.com, Los Angeles
“Kudos for authenticity go to Michelle Alves whose Anita might rival the likes of Chita Rivera and Rita Moreno in their day. Her facial expressions, boundless energy and hot temperament anchors every scene she’s in. You can’t not watch her.”
-Tony Curulla, Syracause
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