photos by Philip koenig

Leigh Murray, an Atlanta, GA native received her BFA in Dance Choreography from Arizona State University in 2009. Since moving to Kansas City, Leigh has had the privilege of working with students at many local studios, including Kansas City Young Audiences, Shapes Dance and Acro, Kansas City Ballet School, Miss Maria’s PDC, and Encore at the J. She has also conducted Master Classes and training camps on a national scale, and has served as a judge for youth competitions.

Leigh is also a producer, professional performer, and choreographer. Currently serving her seventh season as the Artistic Director of KC Contemporary Dance, her choreography has been presented locally and regionally. She has produced many concerts, including eight repertory shows, and presented work in multiple adjudicated performances over the past ten years. 

Also a certified fitness instructor and wellness coach, Leigh is an advocate for healthy living. She combines her love of movement and wellness by leading group fitness classes at local gyms. 

Leigh is passionate about arts education and deeply believes in providing opportunities for people of all backgrounds to experience and participate in the arts, especially dance. She has worked to implement new programs for arts education across the Midwest and strives to continue to enrich the cultural landscape of Kansas City with innovative arts programming.