Genesis Arts Kentucky currently offers beginners creative movement at Valley High School (freshmen- seniors) through the Family Resource Center. In addition to their work at Valley, they provide dance to youth in the Shawnee neighborhood and arts programming for older adults in the Russell community at the West Chestnut Street YMCA. Genesis Arts Kentucky, Inc. is committed to enriching lives of children and aging populations through arts education, performance, and the cultural arts.
Portia White has worked in arts education for more than 30 years as a performing artist and administrative as Director of Community Arts Education for Kentucky Performing Arts; Education Director and Modern Dance Instructor for Louisville Ballet and as Manager of Arts Programs for Metro Parks & Recreation. Prior to her administrative role in the arts, Portia studied in New York City with the Alvin Ailey School, Broadway Dance, Eleo Pomare and Forces of Nature Dance Companies. Her dance training began in her hometown of Louisville, KY with Jewel K. McNari, Courtney School of Dance and Louisville Ballet.
Gwendolyn Murphy is a teaching and exhibiting fiber and clay artist. She graduated from the University of Louisville with a BA in fine art – concentration in ceramics and post baccalaureate courses in textile surface design, printmaking design, art for elementary students and art for high school students. Gwen has taught for Kentucky Museum of Art & Craft, the Americana Community Center with a project funded through the National Endowment for the Arts, Kentucky Performing Arts’ ArtsReach Program, the Lambarena Project with Louisville Ballet and textile and ceramics for the Louisville Metro Government Office of Youth Development Studio 2000 Arts Program which she also directed in 2012 through 2014.
