Originally from Singapore, Priscilla Nathan-Murphy received her classical ballet training in the Royal Academy of Dancing Syllabi and has also been trained in oriental dance mudras, modern dance, and jazz. Ms. Nathan-Murphy has a certification from the British Royal Academy of Dance in teaching and has acquired a Teaching License Diploma from the British Association of Teachers of Dance completed a teacher’s seminar and course in the Cecchetti method in London.

     Some of the teachers and masters of dance that she has worked with include but limited to Rose Eberwein, Eve Pettinger, James Clouser, Kitty Daniels, David Horchoy, Bill Evans, Mary Ford, Carla Maxwell, Doug Varone, Lynda Davis, Lisa Howell, Anne Green Gilbert, Judith Reyn-Stroux. Ms. Nathan-Murphy taught classical ballet, modern dance, and creative movement for the PreSchool through to Professional Divisions of Houston Ballet’s Ben Stevenson Academy since 1985, and later she subsequently held the position of Principal over the Pre School and Pre-Professional School Divisions for 12 years, as well as headed the modern program. While on staff with the Houston Ballet Academy for 30 years, Ms. Nathan-Murphy further developed and delineated the syllabi for the Creative Dance Program, as well as introduced the Pre-Ballet Syllabii and continued to update Houston Ballet’s Syllabus for the Pre-School, Pre-Professional and adult program. She was also instrumental in introducing Improvisational Composition, Cultural and Social Dance, and Musical Theater into the curriculum of Houston Ballet’s Summer Intensive Program. She has also been a teaching artist with the Texas Institute for Arts in Education and has held the position of adjunct faculty/consultant at the High School for the Performing and Visual Arts for 20 years.

     Ms. Nathan-Murphy has successfully coached several students/participants from both Houston Ballet for The Prix de Lausanne International Ballet Competition and students from HSPVA for The ARTS competition.  These resulted in either final placement, medal, as well as scholarship awards. Ms. Nathan-Murphy has also conducted numerous master classes and workshops within the United States. Some of these engagements have included being a repeated guest faculty member at Ballet West, Texas Ballet Theater, SMU, University of Oklahoma, The Juilliard School in New York, The Boston Conservatory, Mobile Ballet Company, Ballet Center of Houston, Bayou City Ballet School, Houston Metropolitan Dance Center, Masters Upper Level to name a few. Her overseas engagements have taken her to The Palucca Schule in Germany, the Beijing Academy of Dance in China, Singapore Ballet Academy, Singapore, Queensland Ballet Academy, Brisbane Australia, Barbados, and several cities in Japan.

     Ms. Nathan-Murphy completed the STOTT Pilates Mat Course. She has performed in Singapore and the United States as a soloist with several companies. She has also choreographed extensively in the United States and Japan. A recipient of numerous scholarships and awards, she received Creative Artist awards from the Cultural Arts Council of Houston/Harris County and from the Fellowship Choreographers Award from the state of Texas. Ms. Nathan-Murphy is also a recipient of the American National Choreographers Competition Award held in Chicago and several teacher recognition awards given by the National Foundation for the Advancement in the Arts. Locally she has choreographed for Houston Ballet II, Houston Grand Opera, The Alley Theater, Houston Metropolitan Dance Company, HSPVA, and numerous other companies.
Ms. Nathan-Murphy continues expanding her boundaries and engaging in teaching workshops and coaching students across the world.