Helen Joy

Helen Joy is an Adjunct Professor of Dance at Furman University, affiliated with the Theatre Arts department in the South Carolina School of the Arts. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Professional Dance and Performance from the Central School of Ballet (2009) and an MFA in Dance, Creative Practice from Saint Mary’s College of California, focusing on phenomenology, somatics, pedagogy, and dance and social justice. She also holds a certification in Lighting Design.

Her professional career includes work as a dancer, singer, aerialist, choreographer, rehearsal director, and production manager across the UK and on luxury cruise lines. At Furman since 2023, she teaches Ballet, Jazz, and Modern Dance courses for students pursuing Musical Theatre or Dance degrees and mentors aspiring choreographers. She collaborates with local theatres in performance, choreography, and lighting design.

Helen’s artistic focus centers on celebrating the dancer as a whole human being, emphasizing imperfections and challenges through somatic practices and modern dance. Her work integrates life experiences and collaborations to reflect broader social narratives.