Mei-Ling Murray | Faculty Advisor, Instructor

Mei-Ling is a classically trained ballet and contemporary dancer. She grew up in Hawai’i and California where she received her early ballet training from Lareen Fender in Walnut Creek, CA. She continued her training with American Ballet Theatre, The Ailey School, and the San Francisco Conservatory of Dance, before graduating with a BFA from the University of Arizona School of Dance. Her professional career began in San Francisco, where she spent eight years as a freelance performing artist, followed by four seasons as a soloist with New Orleans Ballet Theatre. She has danced works by George Balanchine, Jiri Kylian, Ohad Naharin, James Clouser, Robert Moses, Alex Ketley, and Maurice Causey. Her commercial credits include dancing with Arcade Fire’s Kanaval, TEDxSan Francisco, and television appearances on Disney, FOX, and the CW.

Throughout her performing career Mei-Ling has always had a passion for dance education and outreach serving diverse communities around the world. As the Program Director for Movement Exchange, she developed international dance exchange programs with the U.S. Embassies in Panama and India. As a teaching artist for Performing Arts Workshop in San Francisco and Youth Empowerment Project in New Orleans, she provided dance education to underserved youth. Mei-Ling’s latest chapter focuses on serving the dancers of Santa Barbara. She most recently was a guest lecturer at UC Santa Barbara, teaching ballet for the dance department, and joined the State Street Ballet team in 2023. She is thrilled to mentor, encourage, and propel the dancers of SSB Pro-Track.