Education
MCP Hahnemann University, Philadelphia, PA 2000-2002
- Masters in Dance/Movement Therapy, Graduated with Research Honors
- Thesis: "Using Dance/Movement Therapy Techniques to Augment the Effectiveness of Therapeutic Holding with Children".
Maryland University, College Park, MD 1999
- Visiting graduate student, Dance Department and Department of Health and Human Performance.
James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA 1990-1994
- Bachelors of Fine Arts in English Literature, Emphasis on Technical Writing
- Minor Concentration in Dance Theater
Professional Affiliation
American Dance/Movement Therapy Association: Dance Therapist, Registered.
Certified Action Theater™ Instructor
Certified Yoga Instructor: RYT
Intensive Trainings
- Advanced, Licensed Action Theater™ Instructor-17 years- Improvisation/Physical Theater Training- Board of Directors, Grant Writer, Company Member, Workshop Instructor and Producer.
- Dance: 20 years Modern Dance Training, ten years of Yoga Instruction, five years Butoh training- various teachers, please see CV for details.
- Pilates Evolved- Pilates AllegroTraining- Bally Total Fitness.
- Yoga- Flow Yoga Teacher Training, Washington DC- Yoga Alliance
- Acting for Stage and Camera- Donna Betz.
Work Experience
1994-Present: Guest Artist/Choreographer/Workshop Facilitator
Direct and teach workshops/ private instruction in Movement Theater, Action Theater™, Improvisation, and Creative Movement. Set choreography on groups and individuals with a focus on kinesthetic integration of sound, movement, and language. Facilitate project groups in order to foster cohesion and creativity for particular tasks with an emphasis on kinesic communication, group dynamics, and body language. Participants in these workshops include children and adults. Sessions and workshops have been offered in the public school system, private and state universities, hospitals, clinics, theaters, and private performance spaces:
- 2005–Present: The Center- Pilates/Yoga Instructor
- 2004–Present: McGuffey Art Center- Action Theater Instructor
- 2004–Present: Dance and Company- Company Director, Workshop Facilitator, Guest Artist, and Board Member
- 2003–2004: World Art's Focus- Action Theater Instructor (Workshops)
- 2002–Present: Zap Performance Productions-Founder, Workshop Producer, Company Member, and Board Member
- 2002–Present: Noise Posse Productions- Producer, performer, director of evening length productions.
- 2001–Present: James Madison University- Guest Artist, Workshop Facilitator
- 1995–Present: Private Instructor offering instruction on Action Theater, Structural Alignment, Pilates, Yoga, Stretch and Release.
- 1999–1995: Raskin Dance Studio- Instructor, teaching classes in Alignment, Stress and Meditation, Modern Dance, Creative Movement, Improvisation, Contact Improvisation, and Choreography.
- 1999-1995: Red Dress Productions- Cofounder, producer, manager, dancer, choreographer, and soloist.
- 1999–1997: Spiral Circle- Instructor, Stretch and Relaxation for Actors
- 1998–1995: Dr. Phillips High School for the Performing Arts- Dance Teacher: Movement Improvisation, Action Theater, Modern Dance, Stretch and Alignment. Choreographer, choreographing main stage productions for the school's apprentice and advanced dance companies.
Co-Director- Working Title Productions
Founded and Co-direct a New York based performance company dedicated to promoting movement performance. Participates as a Choreographer, Administrator, Grant Writer, and performer.
Company Director/Guest Artist- Dance and Company-2005 to Present
Direct a youth modern dance company. Organize and facilitate rehearsals, auditions, warm-ups, and direct and collaborate on choreography and other company activities such as performances, workshops, and festivals. Participant on the Board of Directors, provide instruction in contemporary improvisation techniques as a guest artist, and collaborate with local community-based arts groups.
Guest Artist/Lecturer- James Madison University- 2004 to Present
Teach college classes in Improvisation, Physical Theater, Movement for Actors, Pilates, Yoga, and Alignment.
Somatic Instruction (Private Clients): 2003-Present:
Provide training for individuals and groups in Pilates Mat and Allegro, Yoga, Yoga/Pilates Fusion, Alignment, and Stretch and Meditation. Students range from professional athletes with sports specific goals, individuals with injuries/back pain, to beginners with personal fitness goals.
FedPros 1999-present: Partner
Provide expert level consultation to commercial clients regarding government contracting. Responsible for developing and negotiating government contracting vehicles for private businesses interested in working with the US Government. Duties include developing government contracting vehicles for competitive markets and the General Services Administration. Acts as a Program Manager to facilitate proposal creation and approval process by partnering with the client's team. This process involves conducting research, creating technical documents, creating pricing matrices, developing contracting and pricing strategies, facilitating and managing general project progress, and supervising junior staff. Acts as a liaison between customer's and government negotiators, and supports clients by facilitating business and contract oriented meetings and projects. Coaches clients through negotiations with government officers. Provides "after award" consultation for clients in the government market including marketing, competitive proposal support, and contract maintenance. Responsible for all marketing and billing activities of FedPros.
Dance Movement Therapist- People Places: 2004 to 2008
Provided individual, family, and group therapy to children and their families within the Foster Parent program as a Dance/Movement Therapist. Treatment and assessment utilized Dance/Movement Therapy in conjunction with program methodology to teach parents how to care for foster children with behavioral, physical and/or learning disabilities. Provided assessments, treatment plans, interventions, and testified in court. Worked with other staff to evaluate and facilitate individual and family treatment plans.
Presented cases to government agencies to advocate for therapeutic services to be granted to children and families in the foster care program. Advocated Creative Arts Therapies to local mental health professionals and families in foster care. Lead lectures, presentations, and in-service training for mental health professionals with regards to Creative Art Therapies. Grant writing duties.
Zap Performance Projects 2002-2008: Co-Founder, Administrator, Grant Writer
VP of Operations for all administrative and legal matters for this non-profit organization. Present Member of the Board of Directors for a nonprofit organization dedicated to the dissemination, preservation, and instruction of Action Theater in Santa Fe, NM. Duties included business development, advertising, research and formal documentation, attended and participated in bi-monthly board meetings, documented all ZAP activities, and provided formal training in Action Theater. Researched and wrote grants in support of ZAP Performance Projects.
Achievements
Research
Successfully written and defended a Master's Thesis on augmenting seclusion and restraint practices with children. This project included in-depth quantitative and qualitative research, and a pilot study for training safe restraint procedures. The results of this study were that the training program was adopted as protocol at the research site for all existing and new employees. The workshop is currently being conducted at several institutions for staff training purposes.
Publications
Lundy, H.; McGuffin, P. 2005. Using Dance/Movement Therapy to Augment the Effectiveness of Therapeutic Holding With Children. The Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Nursing. (JCAPN, Volume 18, No. 3, July-September, 2005).
"Using Dance/Movement Therapy Techniques to Augment the Effectiveness of Therapeutic Holding with Children"©- ProQuest, Ann Arbor, MI 2002.
"Using Dance/Movement Therapy Techniques to Augment the Effectiveness of Therapeutic Holding with Children"- website, www.drexel.edu/cnhp/research/rsch-future.html, Current Research in the College of Nursing and Public Health, 2002
Grant writing and Contracts
- Writer and Recipient of the Arts Council of the Valley Mini Grant, 2006
- Writer and Recipient of the Arts Council of the Valley Mini Grant, 2005
- Writer and Recipient of James Madison University Departmental Grant for Interdepartmental Improvisational Theater Training, 2004
- Writer and Recipient of Shen Gallery grant for ZAP Performance Productions, 2003.
- Writer and Recipient of Shen Gallery grant for Action Theater program for Northwestern High School, a designated Arts Academy within the Prince George's County Public Schools, 2003.
- Writer and Recipient of Obermayer Grant for Action Theater Institute, 2002.
- Writer and recipient of Hard Rock Community Grant for Action Theater program for Doctor Phillip's High School Improvisation Program, 1996 and 1997.
- Successfully negotiated over 100 GSA contracts for commercial clients.
Lectures and Master Classes
- "Improvisation Techniques"–Brooklyn Arts Exchange, NY NY, 2008
- "Introduction to Physical Theater"–University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 2007
- "Introduction to Dance/Movement Therapy"–University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 2007
- "Community Dance"–James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA 2007.
- "Dance Networks"–James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA 2007.
- "Dance Professional"–James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA 2003.
- "Attachment Disorders and Dance Movement Therapy Intervention"–People Places, Inc., Staunton, Virginia, 2006
- "Using Dance/Movement Therapy to Augment the Effectiveness of Therapeutic Holding" – MCP
- Hahnemann University Hospital, Philadelphia, PA 2002.
- "Dance/Movement Therapy Techniques for De-escalation During Violent Incidents"–Terry Children's Psychiatric Center, Wilmington, DE 2002.
- "Gender Differences and the Moving Body"–University of Maryland, College Park, MD 2002.
- "Dance Movement Therapy and Patient-Provider Communication"–University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD 2002.
- "History of Dance/Movement Therapy"–Terry Children's Psychiatric Center, Wilmington, DE 2002.
Awards
- 2007: DC Choreographer's Showcase
- 2002: MCP Hahnemann Research Award for Outstanding Research in the field of Mental Health
- 1995: Graduated Summa Cum Laude, James Madison University
- 1995: President's List, James Madison University
- 1994-1991: Dean's List
- 1991-1994: National English Honors Society Achievement Award
References Available on Request
For more information on workshops and registration please email improvdiva@gmail.com
