Melonie Buchanan Murray portrait
  • Director, School Of Dance
  • Professor, School Of Dance

Research Summary

Murray's research interests lie primarily in two veins: examining the history and evolution of the academic discipline of dance and exploring the continual evolution of ballet training methods and performance through critical theory and progressive pedagogies. Murray’s academic writing has been published in peer-reviewed journals, and she continues to defend the arts, dance, and ballet as worthy of academic consideration and as valuable scholarly pursuits.

Education

  • BFA , Ballet, Friends University
  • MFA, Dance, University of California, Irvine. Project: Maestro Cecchetti, Diaghilev’s Ballet Master
  • PhD , Dance, Texas Woman's University. Project: The Swan in the Ivory Tower: Ballet Programs in US Higher Education

Biography

Murray is a higher education administrator, dance educator, scholar, and artist. Currently serving as the Director of the School of Dance at the University of Utah, Murray was previously the Associate Dean for Faculty and Academic Affairs in the College of Fine Arts.

 

Murray's research interests lie primarily in two veins: examining the history and evolution of the academic discipline of dance and exploring the continual evolution of ballet training methods and performance. While honoring the past, Murray investigates dance through the lenses of critical theories and progressive pedagogies. Topics of recent research have included the evolution of the field of dance science in higher education, the unlikely development of ballet as an area of study in academe, the commoditization of dancers in the advertising campaigns of American ballet companies, ballet as a form of cultural identity, and the performance of gender in early ballet training. Murray’s academic writing has been published in peer-reviewed journals, and she continues to defend the arts, dance, and ballet as worthy of academic consideration and as valuable scholarly pursuits.  

 

Holding a BFA in Ballet from Friends University, MFA in Dance from the University of California, Irvine, and a PhD in Dance from Texas Woman's University, Murray believes there is a place for all dance forms within the academy, and her commitment to dance as a scholarly endeavor is paramount. An instrumental figure in developing the dance program at Colorado Mesa University, Murray has also served as the Ballet Program Head and as Director of Graduate Studies for the Ballet Program at the University of Utah.  

 

As a choreographer, Murray is particularly interested in pushing the boundaries of ballet and exploring ways in which to communicate complex concepts and social critique through movement.  Embracing a range of dance styles in her creative process, Murray has experience working with ballet, pointe, jazz, tap, musical theatre, and contemporary genres of dance. Her choreographic work has been selected for performance at the American College Dance Association and the World Dance Alliance, and she has choreographed original works for the University of Utah, Friends University, Colorado Mesa University, Wilder Productions (Aspen, CO), The Grand Junction Symphony, and PGT Productions (for Carnival Cruise Lines)

 

Murray performance experience includes dancing as a Radio City Rockette, principle dancer with Wichita Ballet Theatre, and featured dancer with Musical Theatre of Wichita.  Additionally, Murray sailed the seas with Norwegian Cruise Lines as dance captain for Broadway-style productions, has performed with several musical theatre companies, and was a featured dancer with Francisco Martinez Dance Theatre, a Los Angeles based award-winning modern dance company.  

 

Murray is certified in American Ballet Theatre’s national training curriculum and has experience teaching multiple genres of studio and academic courses at several universities. Professional affiliations include the Dance Studies Association, World Dance Alliance-Americas, the National Dance Educators Organization, and she is currently a President-elect of CORPS de Ballet International. Murray has also served numerous times as an adjudicator for the American College Dance Association.