Molly Heller

Molly Heller is an Associate Professor in the School of Dance at the University of Utah and Director of Heartland, a multidisciplinary performance collective based in Salt Lake City. Her research explores performance as a healing practice, the relationship between physical expression and emotion, and interdisciplinary approaches integrating theater, visual arts, and community engagement. She holds a BFA (2009) and MFA (2015) in Modern Dance from the University of Utah, along with certifications in Pilates and Reiki.

Her scholarly work emphasizes sustainability, embodiment, and imaginative teaching, with recent publications discussing visibility/invisibility in artistic practice and pedagogical approaches to dance education. She mentors graduate students in thesis research and teaches courses in improvisation, technique, socially engaged art, and pedagogy.

Heller directs the Heartland Collective, which collaborates with visual artists (e.g., Andrew Alba) and institutions globally. Projects include site-specific performances, museum installations, and touring works like ‘lectric Eye and BIG BEATS. Her choreography has been presented at venues including National Theater Mannheim (Germany), Danspace Project (NYC), and Utah Museum of Contemporary Art.