McKayla Murphy is dancer, choreographer, and teacher in the Twin Cities area. She is also the lead dance instructor for a community dance program and an occasional guest teacher and choreographer.
Recent
McKayla has recently performed "What's Left" at Gustavus Adolphus College and Hamline University's Star Studio Symphony benefit concert. McKayla was a lead organizer and presenter for Still We Rise: A Gathering of Artists and Activists in September 2018. She also served as Artist in Residence for the Children's Museum of Southern Minnesota (2017) and performed in the Minnesota Fringe Festival show "Graywolves" (2016). McKayla also served as a guest teacher and choreographer for 4 productions at Northern Starz Children's Theatre (2015 - 2017).
Training
McKayla grew up in competitive dance, where ballet technique was the main emphasis of her training, while also studying jazz, tap, and contemporary dance. McKayla received the Evelyn Anderson Theatre and Dance Scholarship from Gustavus Adolphus College in 2013 and was a committed member of the Gustavus Dance Company where she continued her study of ballet and modern dance until her graduation in 2016. In her three years at Gustavus, McKayla performed in five main stage shows, one student-directed production, Christmas in Christ Chapel, the Celebration of Light, and several smaller student projects; she also attended the American College Dance Association Regional Conference twice. McKayla choreographed for a student production, a main stage show, and a self-directed video choreography project titled "Braced Not Broken." McKayla was a Teaching Assistant for for several Beginner and Intermediate level courses. McKayla received the Student-Faculty research grant for the summer of 2015 where she worked with Michele Rusinko and Jordan Lovestrand to create a five section piece set to "Tapiola Visions" by Takashi Yoshimatu. Additionally, McKayla studied Continuum technique with La Gringa Danza for a month-long intensive in January of 2016. In May of 2016 McKayla graduated from Gustavus with a B.A. in Communication Studies and minors in Management and Dance. Outside of dance, McKayla operates has a passion for social justice, youth development, travel, and outdoor adventures.
For choreography or teaching inquiries contact: