Melissa Maldonado is a dancer originally from Queens, New York. When love brought her to Berlin, she very quickly adapted to the city’s ongoing opportunities. She’s always on the move, dividing her time between earning money in an art gallery or giving children ballet and flamenco classes, as well as developing a career as a dancer and choreographer. She is currently working on her next piece to be performed for Inwent at a conference on women’s rights. This is her Berlin.

How long did it take you to discover Berlin’s beauty and which places you think are really beautiful here?

It’s difficult to discover beauty in cities, where concrete generally overshadows nature.  But from the moment I arrived in Berlin I couldn’t help but be amazed by how green it was. Not only does nearly every street have trees, bushes or flowers, but there are also parks and gardens everywhere.

Summer at Wannsee                                                                                                         Photo: Ax11

Berlin is also full of wonderful surprises like the Pfaueninsel, Britzer Garten and Wannsee. It’s a city that offers everything that a major metropolis would offer and then so much more.

Berlin gets quite cold and dark in winter. Where do you go to escape the grayness and keep your high spirit?

This depends on whether or not I’m hungry. I have two favorite and very different cafes in the city. Olivia, a very small café/chocolate shop in Friedrichshain, has the best tarts and cakes and amazing hot chocolate. If I want something more hearty, I go to Al Hamra at Helmholzplatz in Prenzlauer Berg. They have the best Halumi salad in the city, not to mention falafel, hummus…

If I’m not hungry, then I enjoy roaming around any of the major museums (they’re all free on Thursdays after 8pm) or galleries in Mitte. 

Are there any places in this city which impresses a girl from New York City?

Yes! There are so many places that impress me! I love the canals that run through Kreuzberg with waterfront restaurants and cafes and people lounging on blankets when the weather is right.

Landwehrkanal                                                                                             Photo: Mikkelbreum

And then there are the weekend markets with fresh fruits, vegetables, meat, fish, flowers and so much more. And not to forget, the great boutiques with one-of-a kind clothing that would be completely unaffordable in NY, but is totally affordable here.

As a dancer you have a disciplined daily routine. Do you have a favorite place where you go after an exhausting training or to celebrate a premiere?

After an exhausting day of rehearsals or training I go straight to my bathtub for a muscle-relaxing bath. When I really want to indulge, I go to Die Wohfuehler on Kollwitzstrasse 75 for a massage or to Olivin, a quaint but very comfortable and relaxing sauna on Schoenhauser Allee. After a premiere I spend as much time as I deem necessary at the after party, generally organized by the venue or the choreographer, then I go to my bathtub. Most dancers will tell you that the best celebration is a hot bath and a massage!    

There are many hip and trendy clubs in town. Where do you go dancing till dawn?

Surprisingly enough, I’m not a huge fan of going out dancing. Many people think that dancers like to go out dancing, but this is purely a myth. We do it all day, and that’s enough. If I want to spend a night out on the town, I prefer to hit up some of the great bars in the city. Goldfisch on Grünberger Strasse 67 in Friedrichshain is small and cozy. And, they make the best pina coladas! 

Zu Mir oder Zu Dir                                                                                                      Photo: Renaatje

If I want something a bit more lively then I go to Zu Mir oder Zu Dir on Lychener Strasse. I am also a huge fan of any bar with a football table!

You also like opera, but if you are not in the mood for a Wagner Opera which cultural event do you visit?

Although I love the German opera for its modern take on classical pieces, there are so many other wonderful and more contemporary venues with great performances.  The Goldener Saal at Tacheles, though somewhat gritty and rough, plays host to some of the best choreographers and dancers working in the city. Sophiensaele and Dock 11 also offer emerging choreographers the opportunity to showcase their work.      

Personally I don’t find Berliners particularly welcoming. What are your recipes to cope with them?

A good sense of humor and lots of traveling!  And that’s all it really takes. My experience is that Berliners tend to get a bit more edgy as the temperatures drop, so that’s when I book flights to Cologne or anywhere in the South, where the people are generally a bit more welcoming!  But, if I can’t get away, then laughter is the best medicine.  What else can you do when someone yells at you for not having a bike light, honks a car horn because you’re crossing the street too slowly or nearly knocks you down when racing to the just opened cash register. A smile goes a long way here!

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