Research Summary

Performance as an avenue for healing emotional/psychological trauma and the relationship between physical expression and one’s emotional anatomy. Thesis research published, "Becoming Incredible: Healing Trauma through Performance," (2015) relating to research interests, both theoretical and creative.

Education

  • Master of Fine Arts, Department of Modern Dance, University of Utah. Project: "Becoming Incredible: Healing Trauma through Performance."
  • Personal Training Certification, Fitness, National Academy of Sports Medicine
  • Bachelor of Fine Arts, Department of Modern Dance, University of Utah
  • Pilates Certification, Pilates, PhysicalMind Institute

Biography

Molly is the Director of Heartland, a multi-disciplinary collective centralized in Salt Lake City, with performances nationally and internationally. She is also an Assistant Professor within the School of Dance at the University of Utah. Her research investigates performance as a healing practice and the relationship between physical expression and emotion. Molly has also been on faculty at Westminster College (SLC), SUNY New Paltz (NY), and Dance New Amsterdam (NYC) and has taught for: ODC Dance Commons (San Francisco), Shawl Anderson Dance Center (Berkeley), Utah Valley University, Middlebury College (VT), University of Nebraska at Omaha, Creighton University (NE), Salt Dance Fest (University of Utah), Dance West Fest (SLC), Utah Ballet Summer Intensive (University of Utah), Ririe-Woodbury’s Professional Intensive (SLC), Boise State University, and Balance Dance Company (Boise, ID). 

Molly’s choreographic work is an extension of her interest in health and wellbeing, as well as an interweaving of theater practices and dance. Her choreography has been presented by the Utah Museum of Contemporary Art, Urban Lounge (SLC), Eccles Regent Street Blackbox Theatre (SLC), Kingsbury Hall for TEDx Salt Lake City, Gowanus Art + Production, Danspace Project at St. Mark’s Church, Movement Research at the Judson Church. Green Space, DUMBO Dance Festival, The Mahaney Center for the Arts (Middlebury, VT), and the Ladies’ Literary Club (SLC). Molly has had commissions to create new works by the Rire-Woodbury Dance Company, Repertory Dance Theatre, Shawl-Anderson Dance Center (Berkeley), Balance Dance Company (Boise, ID), Boise State University, Westminster College (SLC), and Sugar Space Studio for the Arts (SLC).  

Molly holds an M.F.A. from the University of Utah where she received the Thomas G. Stockham Medal for Conspicuously Effective Teaching, the L. Scott Marsh Mentorship Award, and a University Teaching Assistantship (UTA). Molly also holds certifications in Pilates and Reiki. As a performer, Molly has worked with Naganuma Dance, Netta Yerushalmy, Stephen Koester, Satu Hummasti, Katie Faulkner, and she currently performs with Joanna Kotze.