Malashock Dance Leadership
Staff
Christopher K. Morgan
Artistic Director
Molly Puryear
Executive Director
Kaely Garred
Operations Director
Board of Directors
Richard Trujillo
Board Chair
Richard (he/him) is an arts administration professional who most recently served as the artistic director at the San Diego School of Creative and Performing Arts (SDSCPA). He led the artistic vision and guided the school to a renewed sense of purpose putting it on track for national arts accreditation. Richard curated 13 seasons of award-winning theatre, music, visual and media arts, creative writing, and dance. He led the formalization of the arts majors, and designed the programs of study establishing and authenticating the school’s distinctive dual curriculum.
He served 6 years as the City of San Diego’s Representative for the National Association of College Admissions Counselors Visual and Performing Arts Fair. He was Director of Education and the Multidistrict Arts Director for the West Valley Arts Council. He taught drama at Herrera School for the Fine Arts in Phoenix, Arizona and was nominated for the Governor’s Arts Award in 2005.
An award-winning actor, director and producer Richard has shared the stage with Tony Award Nominees Grace Keagy, Clayton Corzatte, and Patrick Page. He may in fact be the only actor to perform works by these three Latino vanguards–Latins Anonymous, Culture Clash and John Leguizamo. Each production was directed by his mentor, the late theatre icon, Diane Rodriguez. A directing highlight was leading the original production of James E. Garcia’s Voices of Valor, a joint project from Artes Americas partners Arizona State University Public Events and the University of Texas in Austin. Richard is a proud member of Actors Equity Association
Anne Fee
Treasurer
“Malashock Dance has changed my life. It started with the adult beginner ballet and now I am taking multiple classes a week. Anything I can do to help promote such a positive and inclusive dance company is time well spent!”
Anne (she/her) is a passionate community leader who volunteers and participates in dance throughout San Diego. With experience in marketing and promotions, she is excited to be a Director on the Board of Malashock Dance.
Idylia Hachi
Idylia (she/her) is an Award-Winning Actress, model, and dancer. She serves as a Diversity Advocate and performs with her burlesque group in San Diego CA. She is a strategic thinker and advocate for the arts.
Martha Breslin
Treasurer
“I love that I’ve been presented an opportunity to continue to be a part of the dance community in adulthood, serve the community, and be able to contribute my love of dance and knowledge of the financial aspect of nonprofits.”
Martha Grimes (she/her), CPA, Assurance and Advisory Manager, graduated cum laude from the University of California, Santa Barbara with a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Accounting. She joined the EisnerAmper LLP team in June of 2016. She specializes in performing audits, reviews, compilations, as well as consulting on accounting processes for a variety of entity types. Currently, she serves as a board member for Malashock Dance, the Rwandan Orphans Project and the Rancho Santa Fe Senior Center.
John Malashock
Founding Director, Ex-Officio
JOHN MALASHOCK (he/him) 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
Amy Rumbin
Bio Coming Soon
Jessica Hanson York
Bio Coming Soon
Molly Glynn 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.
Christopher Kaui Morgan (he/him) is a choreographer, performer, educator, facilitator, curator, and arts administrator whose Native Hawaiian ancestry and wide-ranging international performance career influence all aspects of his work. His vision for Malashock Dance balances the growth of the performing company with access to dance education for all, a commitment to supporting new work by San Diego choreographers and the legacy of Founding Artistic Director, as well as his own work. His choreography synthesizes dance, storytelling, original music, and multimedia design to explore identity, social, and cultural issues. Morgan is honored to return to Malashock Dance & Company, where he began his dance career as a company member from 1995-1998. He founded dance company Christopher K. Morgan & Artists, in 2011; the same year Dance Magazine profiled him as one of six breakout choreographers in the United States. His choreography has received support from Creative Capital, New England Foundation for the Arts, National Performance Network, Dance USA, Native Arts & Cultures Foundation, and Western Arts Alliance. His work has been performed in 22 countries on 5 continents.
Christopher is also an arts administrator, curator, and educator. He served as Vice President of Programming at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center where he curates music, dance, and theater performances, oversees the Schaefer International Gallery, and an arts education program that serves thousands of Hawai’i youth, adults, and educators. From 2017-2021 Christopher was Executive Artistic Director of Dance Place (Washington, DC), stewarding the organization through the triple pandemics of 2020-2021 maintaining the entire staff with no layoffs or furloughs and continuing to pay artists and teachers. Since 2006 Christopher has directed Art Omi: Dance, an annual collaborative residency for international choreographers in New York.
In June 2021, Christopher was nominated by President Joseph R. Biden for the National Council on the Arts and was confirmed by the US Senate for a six year term in March 2022. He serves on the board of the National Performance Network, and was co-chair of the 2023 Association of Performing Arts Professionals Annual Conference. Known as a thoughtful advocate for cultural integrity, inclusivity, and diverse representation in the studio and on stage, his Native Hawaiian ancestry and wide-ranging international performance career influence all aspects of his work. He lives in San Diego with his husband, opera director Kyle Lang.
Kaely Garred (she/her) has transformed her passion for dance into her lifelong calling. Since 2018, she has been instrumental in nurturing the growth of the Malashock Dance School and fostering its vibrant community of students of all ages and backgrounds.
She earned her BFA in Dance Performance & Choreography and Business Management at Hope College in Holland, Michigan. Kaely then spent time in New York City working with DAMAGEDANCE and KEIGWIN + COMPANY working closely with the administration teams for both companies. before moving to Portland, Oregon where she tested her flexibility, working as a bookkeeper and assistant director of Vitality Dance Collective. With Vitality, she stretched into various roles including choreographer, administrator, performer, teacher, and producer. Her passion for creating spaces for dancers of all ages to feel valued and belong drove her to San Diego and Malashock Dance where she has been working to grow the school and build community for the last 5 years.
In addition to her work with Malashock Dance, Kaely serves on the steering committee for the San Diego Youth Dance Festival.