Ruby Messina
Ruby “MzRuby” Messina is a credentialed professional dancer, choreographer, coach, and educator with extensive experience across multiple dance disciplines. Trained in styles ranging from hip-hop and Latin jazz to ballet and contemporary, Ruby has built a versatile career performing, teaching, and mentoring dancers at all levels. She is also a recognized talent and brand ambassador, blending her performance skills with industry insight to inspire and guide the next generation of dance professionals. Ruby currently serves as a dance instructor at Excite Dance & Cheer Company and the Clark County School District in Las Vegas, where she leads classes in hip-hop, cheer, and performing arts. She has also worked as a freelance dancer and instructor for World of Dance and the City of Las Vegas, bringing creativity, discipline, and technical expertise to each project. Her hands-on approach to teaching emphasizes not only skill development but also confidence, artistic expression, and professional growth. A graduate of the University of Nevada-Las Vegas with a BFA in Dance, Ruby is deeply committed to community and youth engagement. She has volunteered with organizations such as the Boys & Girls Clubs of America and World of Dance of Orange County, coaching dance and cheer teams and fostering a love of the arts in young people. Throughout her career, she has earned multiple awards for her dance excellence, reflecting both her dedication and her passion for performance, artistry, education, and mentorship in the dance industry.
• NDCA Judging Credential
• University of Nevada-Las Vegas - BA
• National Dance Association
• National Dance Coaches Association
• World of Dance Company
What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to a lifelong passion for dance. I’ve been dancing since I was three years old, and that early start fueled my love for both performing and teaching. Sharing my knowledge with others and inspiring them through movement has been as rewarding as performing myself, and it continues to drive my growth in this field.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
Don’t be hard on yourself, be yourself. Treat everyday like a new one. Be optimistic, stay disciplined.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Don’t underestimate your potential. "Trust your intuition-it's leading you exactly where you're meant to be. Even when the path seems unclear, your inner wisdom knows the way." Accept the phrase “practice makes perfection”, it means your progress & growth is your perfection and not the end result. Remember why consistency matters; your journey will have challenges and you will learn how to adapt or change, be open to them. Talent can make you but how you treat people matters more than how you can fly or how quick you can move, keep the work ethic.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
Some of my greatest challenges targets industry politics in this quickly changing world. Some examples include subjects in artificial intelligence, choreographer’s credits in film productions, the educational impact of the performing arts in Title 1 & 2 schools, thorough classification of dance sport divisions for competitions, on call employed performers on payroll without work. Opportunities in my field have opened in areas of production. Learning more than one skill that can benefit the production level of artistry not just the technical performance of a performer or routine, great for artistic directors/choreographers, more dance or cheer programs open to afterschool students of all levels, and the changes in dance curriculums to include classical dance studies required in secondary schools.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
My most important values are authenticity, integrity, honesty and gratitude; to be the change I want to see in the world.
