Denise Purvis

Denise Purvis, PhD, MFA, RSMT, is a dance educator dedicated to somatic approaches to dance technique and self-healing. She is certified in the Bill Evans Method and Eastwest Somatics Institute Shin Somatics® and is a certified somatic yoga teacher. Purvis’ research addresses the intersection of process philosophy and somatic dance, as well as dance education as 4E cognition.  She is department chair and modern dance specialist at Appomattox Regional Governor’s School in Petersburg, VA. She serves on the Virginia Department of Education Fine Arts Steering Committee as well as the National Dance Education Organization Strategic Planning and Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Committees. Past experience includes serving as dance education specialist at Southern Utah University, and directing the dance program for the Chesterfield County Specialty Center for the Arts at Thomas Dale High School in Chester, VA.  Purvis presents nationally and internationally and is published in the Journal of Dance Education and the Journal of Dance and Somatic Practices.