Malinda LaVelle

Hiland Teaching Artist

Malinda LaVelle (she/her) is a choreographer, dance/movement therapist, and mental health counselor in New Mexico. She graduated with a BFA in Dance from the University of Arizona and is an alumna of the San Francisco Conservatory of Dance (SFCD) under the direction of Summer Lee Rhatigan. Malinda also earned her MA in Dance/Movement Therapy and Counseling from Antioch University New England.  From 2009-2017, Malinda founded and directed Project Thrust (projectthrust.com), a dance-theater company. She has choreographed and produced five original evening-length performances. Her work has been presented in multiple venues in San Francisco, Colorado, and New Mexico, and has been supported by several grants. Throughout her time as artistic director, Malinda participated in artist residencies at the Peñasco Theater, SAFEhouse for the Performing Arts, and was commissioned to choreograph for the performing arts and social justice department at the University of San Francisco. As a performer, Malinda has worked with Alex Ketley, Manuelito Biag, Alyce Finwall, and 20 Moons Dance Theater. She was awarded an Isadora Duncan Award for her performances with Alex Ketley's The Foundry. In 2024, Malinda co-choreographed and performed a new dance-theater work with her long-time collaborator Emmaly Wiederholt at FUSION 708. As a teacher, Malinda has enjoyed working with teens and young adults at SFCD, Ballet Durango, and NDI New Mexico. At SFCD, Malinda developed an improvisation class dubbed "Jam Class" which was featured in Dance Magazine and taught regularly in the pre-professional training program. Malinda currently enjoys working as a dance/movement therapist and counselor and has worked with multiple populations across the life span, most recently with veterans.