Dr. Mary Ann Laverty

Dr. Mary Ann Laverty is a retired Gifted Dance Specialist for Virginia Beach Gifted Dance Education Program. Prior to her previous appointment, she was Director of Dance at Woodside High School and Assistant Professor at Hampton University where she also directed the Community Children’s Dance Program. She has held adjunct positions at Old Dominion University, Christopher Newport University, and Virginia Peninsula Community College. 

 Dr. Laverty received her Ph.D. from New York University where she managed the Kaleidoscope Dances for Children and performed with Washington Square Repertory Dance Company.  Aside from teaching the modern techniques, Dr. Laverty has a strong interest in World Dance, primarily in the African Diaspora and has studied Haitian, Balinese, Bharatnatyam, Flamenco, Middle Eastern and African dance, traveling to Senegal and Gambia with Chuck Davis in 1993.

Dr. Laverty was the recipient of Surdna Educational Fellowship to study abroad in Bali and in India, Summer 2011; the National Dance Association National Dance Educator of the Year, K-12, 2009; and, Dance Teacher magazine, Outstanding Teacher of the Year, K-12, 2006.

Dr. Laverty has served in numerous roles for professional organizations including the  National Dance Society.  She was instrumental in writing the National Dance Education Standards Curriculum Framework and revisions to the Dance Arts Standards for Virginia DOE as well as a curriculum writer for VDOE.  Her research on Charles H. Williams and the Hampton Institute Creative Dance Group was published in “Finding a Way Out: Charles H. Williams and the Hampton Institute Creative Dance Group” in 2012.