McKayla G. Murphy
Choreographer, Teacher, Mover
http://mckaylagmurphy.wixsite.com/dance
www.linkedin.com/in/mckaylagmurphy
EDUCATION
Gustavus Adolphus College
2013 – 2016 B.A. in Communication Studies summa cum laude
Minors: Management and Dance
GPA: 3.93/4.0
Studio One Dance
2004 – 2013
Studied ballet, jazz, contemporary, tap, and hip hop
HONORS
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2016 recipient of the Outstanding Scholarship in Communication Studies Award
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Lamba Pi Eta Communication Studies Honor Fraternity Member
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2015 recipient of Student-Faculty Research Grant to develop a 5 section modern dance piece set to "Tapiola Visions" by Takashi Yoshimatu with Michele Rusinko and Jordan Lovestrand
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2015 recipient of the Residential Life Community Builder Award
RELEVANT EXPERIENCE
RESIDENCY
Artist in Residence | Children’s Museum of Southern Minnesota | January 2017 - February 2017
Through a Shorter Lens: An Interactive Exploration of How Children Move and See Movement
I am exploring the movement of children through the creation of a “movement lab,” I will then use this movement to create a mid-length piece on experienced adult dancers
PERFORMANCE
(Listed as piece title, date performed, choreographer)
Graywolves: A GerotranscenDANCE – MN Fringe | August 2016 | Michele Rusinko
Pavane for Water | May 2016 | Michele Rusinko and McKayla Murphy
Studies on Gravity | May 2016 | Sarah Hauss
Uprooted | May 2016 | Michele Rusinko
Celebration of Light | May 2016 | Gustavus Dance Company Class of ’16
I Practice Not Feeling A Thing* | May 2016 | Jordan Klitzke
For Those Who Stayed |December 2015 | Kathryn Dudley
Star Street Bethlehem | December 2015 | Michele Rusinko
Maden, Maker, Maven, Muse* | | May 2015 | Cynthia Gutierrez-Garner
What’s Left | May 2015 | Michele Rusinko
Show Up | May 2015 | Katy Becker
River Flows in You | December 2014 | Sara Bitton, Leah Pruden, Hailey Uphoff, McKayla Murphy
My Body is Home | December 2014 | Maggie Kennedy
Rebound | May 2014 | Sarah Hauss
Wish Want Hunger Ache | November 2013 | Mallory Waytashek
*Selected as rehearsal director
CHOREOGRAPHY
(Listed as piece title, number of dancers, date performed)
Annie Jr. | 3 casts with 24 dancers each | Northern Starz Children’s Theatre | December 2016
Braced Not Broken | 2 dancers | April 2016Finding Peace | 3 dancers | December 2015
The Normalized Fall | 4 dancers | May 2015
Beautiful Wreckage | 1 dancer | December 2014
The Paths We Travel | 7 dancers | December 2014
I’m in Here | 2 dancers | December 2013 | co-choreographed with Annaliese Heinicke
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
2017
Lead Dance Instructor and Program Organizer
City of Plymouth | Ballet, tap, jazz, hip hop, and modern dance | Ages 3 - 18
Private Lesson Instructor
Northern Starz Children’s Theatre | Musical theatre, jazz, ballet | Ages 7-9
2016
Professor’s Assistant for Fundamentals of Modern Dance
Under Sarah Hauss | Gustavus Adolphus College | Ages 18 - 24
2015
Professor’s Assistant for Intermediate Ballet
Under Sue Gunness | Gustavus Adolphus College | Ages 18 - 24
Professor’s Assistant for Beginning Modern Dance
Under Katy Becker | Gustavus Adolphus College | Ages 18 - 24
2014
Professor’s Assistant for Beginning Ballet I
Under Michele Rusinko | Gustavus Adolphus College | Ages 18 – 24
Professor’s Assistant for Beginning Ballet I
Under Sue Gunness | Gustavus Adolphus College | Ages 18 – 24
2013
Teacher’s Assistant for ballet, contemporary, jazz, hip hop, and tap
Under Cynthia Prinzing, Becca Stevens, and Laura Peterson |Studio One Dance | Ages 3 - 15
COURSES IN DANCE
Intermediate Modern Dance | 2013 | Sarah Hauss
Dance History | 2014 | Michele Rusinko
Pilates Conditioning | 2014 | Rachel More
Intermediate Ballet | 2014 | Sue Gunness
Intermediate Modern Dance | 2014 | Melissa Rolnick
Dance Composition I | 2014 |Sarah Hauss
Advanced Modern Dance Company | 2014 | Jill Patterson
Intermediate Ballet | 2014 | Sue Gunness
Dance Composition II | 2015 | Michele Rusinko
Advanced Modern Dance | 2015 | Sarah Hauss
Social Dance | 2015 | Nate Otto
Advanced Creative Research | 2015 | Melissa Rolnick
Advanced Modern Dance Company | 2015 | Jill Patterson
La Gringa Danza Repertory | 2016 | Jordan Klitzke and Melissa Herrada
Advanced Modern Dance | 2016 | Melissa Rolnick
Intermediate Ballet | 2016 | Sue Gunness
CONFERENCES
2016
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Symposium on Media, Communication, and Film Studies Programs at Liberal Arts Colleges | Muhlenberg College
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American College Dance Association North Central Regional Conference | University of Wisconsin Steven’s Point
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Undergraduate Communication Research Conference | University of St. Thomas
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Gustavus Women In Leadership Conference | Gustavus Adolphus College
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UNI RA (Resident Advisor) Conference | University of Northern Iowa
2015
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American College Dance Association North Central Regional Conference | University of Iowa
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Undergraduate Communication Research Conference | University of St. Thomas
RELEVANT VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE
Volunteer | Mankato YWCA | February 2016 – May 2016
Facilitated discussion and activities through the YWCA Girls Inc. program. Contributed several curriculum components currently being used as supplements to the program.
Mentor | Big Partner Little Partner| September 2013 – May 2016
Connected with a youth from the local community weekly to encourage growth of social skills.