Mary Murphy

Mary Murphy earned her BFA in Dance with Special Studies in Ballet, K-12 Teaching Certification in Dance Education and Psychology from Western Michigan University and her MAT in Dance Education from Marygrove College. Mary has studied with Jurgen Schneider formerly of the American Ballet Theatre and with Alonzo King of the Alonzo King Lines Ballet. She has also studied with modern dance choreographers Erick Hawkins and Alwin Nikolais. She has choreographed numerous musical theatre productions for grade schools, high schools, community colleges, community theatres and universities. Recent musical theatre credits include Pipin at Oakland University and Something Rotten for Farmington Players. She has served as the Director of Dance for the University Liggett Schools in Grosse Pointe, MI and as the Director of Dance for Livonia Public School’s Creative and Performing Arts Program (CAPA) for 22 years. She has taught and created curriculum for all levels of ballet, jazz, modern dance, tap and musical theatre and has choreographed and staged numerous concert works. Mary has taught master classes in dance at Michigan State University, Henry Ford Community College, Michigan Youth Arts Festival and various private studios. She currently is a Lecture of Dance Education and Field Coordinator for the Dance Department at Oakland University. She is an instructor at The Dance Centre in South Lyon, MI and choreographer for The Farmington Barn Players in Farmington, MI.  She is a member of the National Dance Education Organization, the Michigan Dance Council and the American Psychological Association. Mary serves as the MDC Dance Division and Honors Dance Ensemble Coordinator for Michigan Youth Dance Festival. Mary was awarded the 2010 Michigan Dance Educator of the Year.