Sue Murray Memorial Scholarship for Dance Students

I am a devoted and passionate dance artist and educator, currently pursuing my master’s degree in clinical Mental Health Counseling at Naropa University, with a transformative focus on Dance Movement Therapy. My journey is not simply a career path it is a vibrant calling deeply rooted in my lifelong dedication to dance, movement education, and holistic wellness. From my early days igniting energy on the stages of NBA and WNBA dance teams in the late ’90s and early 2000s, I have cultivated an expansive and multi-dimensional career that gracefully weaves choreography, educational leadership, community empowerment, and mindful presence. To me, dance transcends mere performance; it is a sacred vessel for healing, radical personal growth, and profound social transformation. Graduating summa cum laude from Coppin State University with a Bachelor of Science in Dance was a milestone that marked not only academic excellence but the birth of new dreams fueled by the recognition of my extensive dance career through prior learning credits. Yet, it was my global travels, journeying through more than 80 countries across every continent, that ignited in me an even deeper reverence for dance as a luminous universal language. Each culture I encountered revealed movement as an essential expression of identity, resilience, and communal story. These encounters enriched my understanding of the intricate ways movement interlaces with cultural narratives, healing traditions, and social justice illuminating a perspective that informs every step of my teaching and creative expression. In my professional life, I orchestrate the fusion of dance with social impact and wellness to create spaces where empowerment thrives through embodied experience. Leading mindfulness-centered educational programs and designing inclusive curricula grounded in Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (J.E.D.I.) principles, I cultivate dynamic community arts initiatives that awaken movement as a catalyst for liberation and self-discovery. My role as Director of Hands2Heal TY LLC exemplifies this sacred integration—crafting trauma-informed, mindfulness-based programs where the body becomes the landscape of healing and self-expression. This aligns profoundly with my clinical studies, where I am steadfast in bridging mental health with the therapeutic power of dance, embracing movement as a conduit for transformation. Choosing to walk this dual path of dance and clinical mental health counseling mirrors my holistic vision of human flourishing. Dance, for me, is a mystical tool that enhances emotional regulation, deepens self-awareness, and interconnects identities at the crossroads of culture, trauma, and resilience. It is within this enchanted space that I foster environments where individuals and communities can honor their ancestral roots, explore their unique stories, and embrace healing through the language of embodied presence. My scholarly and creative work continuously evolves to pioneer programming that champions movement as a profound force for both individual and collective awakening. In essence, I am driven by a visionary belief in dance as a transcendent, interdisciplinary force that shatters boundaries and ignites transformation. My graduate studies amplify my ability to nurture healing and growth through movement, fueled by decades of lived experience and a global cultural consciousness. Enriched by travels through over 80 countries, my practice is a tapestry woven with embodied wisdom, cultural humility, and fierce dedication to social equity. This path continues to shape me as an educator, artist, and mental health advocate, committed to fostering resilience, empowerment, and radiant transformation through the limitless power of dance and movement.