Denise Purvis

 Denise Purvis is founding member and Artistic Director of Shifting Velocity Dance Company in Cedar City, Utah. In addition, she is Assistant Professor of Dance at Southern Utah University teaching ballet, modern, jazz and tap technique, composition, creative dance for children, and K-12 methods. Prior to joining SUU, she designed and directed the dance program for the Chesterfield County Specialty Center for the Arts at Thomas Dale High School in Chester, VA. From 2008 until 2012, Purvis danced with Starr Foster Dance Project in Richmond, VA, and she has consistently worked with various free-lance choreographers since 1999. A strong advocate of the arts and arts education, Ms. Purvis serves on the board of the Utah Dance Education organization as higher education representative. Locally, she serves on the board of the Cedar City Arts Council as the dance arts representative, director of education, and co-chair of the networking socials committee. Purvis holds a Master of Fine Arts degree in Dance Performance/Choreography from the State University of New York at Brockport, where she was on faculty from 2000 – 2004. She was also on faculty at Hobart and William Smith Colleges, in Geneva, NY, from 2003-2004. In addition to her MFA, she holds an undergraduate degree in dance from Mary Washington University in Fredericksburg, VA; and she studied dance at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, VA. Certified to teach the Bill Evans method, Purvis has been privileged to study under Mr. Evans, Don Halquist, Debra Knapp, Susie Lundgren, Cadence Whittier, Kitty Daniels, Eugene Roscoe, Sharon Kinney, Barbara Grubel, Bebe Miller, Mark Haim, Risa Steinberg, Nina Watt, and many other wonderful dancer/choreographers. Ms. Purvis has taught at reputable dance schools in Richmond, VA and Rochester, NY, and choreographed several musicals for both amateur and professional theater companies. An experienced performer, choreographer, and educator, her works have premiered in New York, Virginia, and Utah.