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Where passion for dance and expertise in nutrition come together to empower artists like you to shine on and off the stage.
Hi! I'm Melissa
I'm Melissa Lineburg, a functional nutritionist specializing in dance nutrition. With years of experience and a passion for dance medicine, I am dedicated to helping dancers empower their performance, recovery, and overall well-being through tailored nutritional guidance.
I hold a Masters of Science in Human Nutrition and am a Maryland Licensed Dietitian Nutritionist, Washington, DC Licensed Nutritionist, and a Certified Nutrition Specialist, licensed + certified to provide specialized nutrition care to dancers. I approach my work by focusing on the unique nutritional needs of dancers, using functional medicine to empower their performance and recovery. As a member of the International Association for Dance Medicine & Science (IADMS) and the American Nutrition Association (ANA), I stay current with the latest research and practices in dance + sports medicine.
As a lifelong mover and working dance artist (my mom put me in dance classes at age 4 because I wouldn't stop twirling around the kitchen), captivated by the world of dance.
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Dance is my first love and over the years, I've explored a range of workout types, including half-marathon training, Pilates, High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) workouts, traditional weightlifting, and more. Since 2015, I’ve come to realize that prioritizing nutrition and aspects of life beyond my plate—such as movement, recovery, stress, schedule, and more—leads to significant improvements in my own athleticism and performance quality.
my story
My journey as a professional dancer began shortly after I completed my undergraduate studies. I was excited to dive into the freelance lifestyle, taking on a range of jobs to support myself and somehow balance my social life. However, old habits from my pre-professional training and high school days crept back into my life as I tried to lose weight through various diets, which eventually led to a fractured ankle right before my performance as The Sugar Plum Fairy in my first professional production of The Nutcracker. Despite the setback, I turned to yoga to aid in my recovery and eventually found myself in a yoga teacher training program in 2016.
Years later, I began to prioritize balance in my movement, nutrition, and mindfulness practices, leading to a newfound confidence in my body and liberation from strict dieting. I have a number of years remaining in my professional performance career, and I knew that I needed to begin planning for my years beyond the stage. Knowing that I wanted to continue supporting dancers and the dance community, a pathway towards specializing in health, wellness, and nutrition for dance seemed most appropriate. I decided to go back to school, complete the required prerequisite science courses and was accepted into the University of Bridgeport's Masters of Science program for Human Nutrition and graduated in May 2021.
During my studies, I launched eMpower health + wellness, a nutrition practice that allows me to accrue the 1000+ clinical hours needed for licensure and support my yoga students and followers virtually. In 2022, I rebranded as eMpower performance, working with dancers and performance athletes as a nutritionist in the Washington, DC and surrounding DMV region. I continue to perform, co-founded a contemporary ballet company, dance as a freelance artist, and guide yoga students through their practice. At eMpower performance, I specialize in working with dancers, performance athletes, and fitness enthusiasts to help them reach their full potential with balanced food + nutrition habits - beyond the studio.
I am a Licensed Dietitian Nutritionist (LDN - state of Maryland).
I am a Certified Nutrition Specialist®, credentialed by the American Nutrition Association® through its Board for Certification of Nutrition Specialists™.
more about my eMpower journey
certifications + memberships
