Meet the DME Team
Carmen Lucia Lincoln, Co-Director
Meli, is a Mexican and naturalized US citizen dancer & multidisciplinary artist based in Miní Sóta Makhóčhe lands since 2019. She migrated to the US in 2018 for graduate school, receiving her Masters from Colorado State University. Meli explores the movement as a means of connection between the several layers that build the physical body to empower, and create transformational experiences, that open channels of communication and strengthen the sense of belonging within the community and the world.
Her research is based on modern, afro-modern, jazz, contemporary, Mayan mesoamerican dance techniques & martial arts. Meli’s artistic career started in 2001 touring in Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, and the US notably: Nadie es inocente (GDL, MX), Palenque Rojo & Los Dueños del Tiempo (CHPS, MX), Travesía Sagrada Maya, Hanal Pixan (QR, MX), and Con mucho Corazón (Univision MX and USA). Since 2007 she has taught Pre-Ballet and Modern dance.
Meli combines her work with an extensive professional dance career in Mexico to provide access and empower communities to share their culture, creating dance work and promoting preservation of native traditions through access to cultural activities for over twenty years.
Meli has been an active member of the dance community since her arrival to the Twin Cities,promoting exchange with local artists in MN, TX and IL. She is a recipient of the 2022 Generating Room Residency at The Cowles Center, had participated with local dance companies including: Time Track Productions “Toward Utopia” directed by Paula Mann September 2022, McKnight International Choreographers Residency with Mario Nascimento and Contempo Physical Dance “Desert” October 2022, Guest artist with Body Watani directed by Leila and Noelle Awadallah for “Terranea” 2023, eMartin Dance directed by Erika Martin for Soiled Dance Series 2023, Ananya Dance Theatre 2023, directed “Migration Stories” 2023, Le K’aaba (The origin in Maya Yucatec) Solo by Alexis Zanety at the Minnesota International Dance Festival performance “Los Colores de México”, and Co-Founder/Director of Dance Projects by ME since 2021.
Erika Martin, Co-Director
Erika Martin is a non-binary dancer, educator, choreographer, and engaged citizen. Originally from NC, Erika received a BA in Dance from Connecticut College and had the privilege to study abroad at the Trinity Laban School for Dance, UK. Their choreography investigates identity performance and how experience is manifest in movement.
Erika has performed works by Kyle Abraham, Ronald K. Brown, David Dorfman, Elm City Dance Collective, Ori Floman, Ohad Naharin, Paula Mann, Doug Varonne and Shen Wei. They are the 2015 recipient of the Martha Myers Prize and the 2017 recipient of the Joan Connell Memorial Award. To date, Erika’s professional works have been shown in museums, theaters, and public spaces in Connecticut, New York, Maine and Minnesota: notably at the Lyman Art Museum (CT), Schaefer Theatre Box, Bates Dance Festival (ME), Melrose Ballroom (NY), Praxis Gallery, The Cowles Center, Barbara Barker Center for Dance, Dances at the Lake Festival and DanceBarn (MN).
Erika currently serves as School Coordinator for Zenon Dance School, Artistic Director of eMartin Dance, and Co-Founder of Dance Projects by ME.
Monica Merino
Monica Merino is a Mexican citizen and US resident for 25 years. She was born and raised in Mexico City, where she began her career at “Estudio Profesional de Danza Ema Pulido” learning contemporary, jazz, and ballet. She then joined the company “Arteria 7”.
Her passion for dance opened other doors in the performing arts such as theater and television performances and touring worldwide with artists including Paulina Rubio. She moved to Texas 1998 and joined a dance group associated with Arlington Community College until moving to Minnesota where she decided to focus on her children’s education.
In 2021, she returned to the dance community as an Xchange Volunteer at Zenon Dance School. In 2022, she returned to the stage to perform with Physical Contempo Dance in "Lavadeiras" at Frey Theater (St Catherine University).
In 2023, Monica performed with Dance Projects by ME in “Migration Stories" and in “Los Colores de México” as part of the Minnesota International Dance Festival both held at The Southern Theatre and is happy to continue working with the organization as a member of the advisory board since 2022. In addition to her passion for the performing arts, Monica works as a Teaching Assistant at Garlough Environmental Magnet Elementary School and supports the local community as a Spanish-English interpreter.