Board of Directors & Staff Bios

JOHN MALASHOCK brings 48 years of experience in dance, theater, opera, television and film to his role as Artistic Director of Malashock Dance. As a choreographer and director, he has created more than 100 choreographic works for stage and screen. John founded Malashock Dance in 1988, after a distinguished performing career with Twyla Tharp’s company in New York, where he performed worldwide; appeared in the Academy Award-winning film AMADEUS; was featured in numerous television specials; and performed in concerts with Mikhail Baryshnikov.

Under John’s leadership, Malashock Dance has become one of California’s premier dance companies, and his work has been presented throughout the United States, Central America, Japan, and Europe. Malashock has many notable collaborative credits to his name: he has choreographed productions at La Jolla Playhouse, the Old Globe Theatre, San Diego Symphony, La Jolla Music Society, San Diego Museum of Art, UCTV, KPBS, and San Diego Opera (whose production of THE PEARL FISHERS has been stage in fifteen cities throughout North America). John has garnered six Emmy Awards for his dance films, which have aired on over 30 PBS affiliate stations nationwide.

As a leader within the local and national arts communities, John has served on the Board of Trustees for Dance/USA for six years; participated as a mentor/coach to emerging nonprofit leaders for 20 years through the Fieldstone Leadership Network; served on numerous grants panels for the California Arts Council and National Endowment for the Arts; served on the Arts Advisory Committee of The Campanile Foundation of San Diego State University ; and served on Vanguard Culture’s Advisory Board

Molly Gynn Puryear brings her passion for dance and experience in program management, development, and administration to her position. She was instrumental in the founding and development of the Malashock Dance School in 2007, and as Education Director from 2009 – 2014, she was responsible for all aspects of the School and community outreach programs. Now in the role of Executive Director, she has strategically aligned synergies between the artistic and educational pillars of the organization and fosters a dynamic relationship between programs, the communities they serve, and the organization’s valuable funders.

As an arts administrator, modern dancer, and instructor, Molly demonstrates uncompromising dedication to the art of dance. Molly received a BFA in Dance from the University of North Texas in 2003, where she primarily studied under Arleen Sugano, master instructor and co-author of Physics and the Art of Dance; and Robin Lakes. Molly has choreographed and performed for numerous local dance events, including Sound Dance Company and Push Process Movement Theory in San Diego. Molly is passionate about the inclusion of students with disabilities and was invited to present inclusive movement strategies at the National Conference on Inclusion in 2010, and 2013.

Ms. Puryear participated in the Fieldstone Foundation’s Non-Profit Leadership Learning Group in 2015, the Executive Coaching program in 2016, and the Executive Learning Group in 2018. She was selected to participate in the highly competitive Dance USA DILT (Dance Institute for Leadership Training) in 2015.

Ms. Puryear is committed to serving the community and proudly participated on the Steering Committee for San Diego Dance Connect , a local dance service organization, from 2014-2016. Molly currently serves on the Advisory Board for A Step Beyond
in Escondido and on the Board of Directors for Art Produce. She is open to creative strategies to strengthen the arts community in San Diego, and values accountability, trust, and increasing access to the arts for people from all walks of life.

Kaely Garred graduated from Hope College with a degree in Dance Performance and Choreography and Business Management. While there, she performed with dANCEpROjECT and StrikeTime. Kaely also spent time in New York City interning with administrators for KEIGWIN + COMPANY and DAMAGEDANCE. After graduation, she found her place as assistant director of Vitality Dance Collective in Portland, Oregon. Vitality offered her a varied set of roles including choreographer, administrator, performer, teacher, and producer. Along with her passion for the art of dance, she brings her 5 years of administrative experience to Malashock.

Nicole Diaz-Pellot is a performance artist and choreographer, specializing in movement research through Contemporary Improv, Afro Modern, and Yoga Practices.

Nicole originates from San Diego, California. At the age of four she began training at California Ballet under the direction of Andrea Feier. Nicole has received a variety of scholarships to dance intensives across the United States including Alvin Ailey Summer intensive, The American Dance Festival, and Katherine Dunham Technique Seminar.

Based out of Philadelphia for the last seven years, Nicole attended University of Arts where she received her Bachelors of Fine Arts in Dance. She’s performed and trained under a variety of renowned choreographers, including Group Motion’s 50^th Year Anniversary. Nicole has been part of the Katherine Dunham Technique Certification Program Since 2014. This technique is an African America dance form engaging the mind, body, and spirit through modern, ballet, and traditional dances of the African Diaspora.

In 2020, she became a 400hr Certified Yoga Instructor. Teaching for the last 12 years, her classes correlate self-awareness and the healing aspects of dance. Fusing her contemporary Improv, Afro-Modern, and Yoga Practices, Nicole’s Dance and teaching values are based around the holistic elements of movement.

Natalia Hill is from Lancaster, PA where she started dancing at 3yrs old. She continued her training at multiple studios, several ballet intensives, and multiple genres until receiving her BFA in Modern dance Education from The University of the Arts, Philadelphia. Her passion for dance and teaching have sent her to NY, LA, Vegas, and as far as Italy before settling into San Diego,CA. She has taught at over 20 studios across the country and has been an instructor for Outreach Dance classes through Malashock Dance School since 2016. Natalia is a singer in her band, Nothing Special, and a session musician for local original and cover bands. Professional credits include: MGM, Las Vegas with the Pointer Sisters, Temptations, and The Four Tops, City Opera San Diego WOW Festival, opening performance for 5th Dimensions, PGK Dance Project, Dance Envoy (Italy), Malashock Dance Company, and with a regional theater in PA performing in Will Rogers Follies and Peter Pan. She is grateful for the opportunity to have performed stunning work by local choreographers of San Diego such as Alyssa Junious, Shauna Tyser, Celeste Lanuza, Laura Segura, and Ron Davis. Natalia has also choreographed across the country for things such as Pirates of Penzances and P.T. Barnum, “Dance Your A** Off” promotion in Times Square, NY for Oxygen TV Network, ballet production of Beauty and the Beast, and a dance sequence for an independent film in LA. Natalia is grateful her path has lots of turns and detours that have blessed her with so many amazing people and opportunities. She looks forward to sharing this with her students to guide them on their journey and with her audiences to help them feel connected as people through art.

Driven to make quality dance education accessible to all, Sara has spent almost two decades working as a professional in dance education leadership roles. From 2017-2019, Sara served as the Executive Director and then as a consultant for Jean Isaacs San Diego Dance Theater & Light Box Performance Space, a San Diego non-profit arts organization. Her leadership and development skills helped grow SDDT’s annual fundraising budget, providing the organization with the breadth to expand its programs, services, and staff team exponentially. She has worked with other nonprofit organizations including Boys and Girls Clubs, Performing Arts Workshop, and Carlsbad Performing Arts Academy, in development and administrative roles. Prior to that, she developed and directed dance programming for nine years at the YMCA of San Diego County. She previously spent several years as a volunteer teaching dance within two North County school districts, and she was instrumental in launching dance programs at several San Diego County High Schools.