Molly Puryear: Dancing Toward Joy, Connection and Possibility

Molly Puryear is the Executive Director of Malashock Dance and a lifelong believer in the healing, connective power of movement. With infectious joy and deep conviction, she champions dance not just as an art form but as a way to be more fully human. Under her leadership, Malashock is expanding the definition of what dance can do for the community. This is demonstrated through SD NeuroDance, a pioneering program blending movement, neuroscience, and care to support individuals living with ALS, Parkinson’s, cerebral palsy, and more. 

This Episode: 
How can the joy and vulnerability of dance bring us closer to ourselves and each other? 

In this heartfelt conversation, Molly shares how Malashock Dance is helping SD NeuroDance participants and caregivers alike reconnect with joy, dignity, and embodiment through dance. The program shifts the focus from limitations to possibilities. Rooted in science and lived experience, SD NeuroDance creates a space where people can move, bond, and feel at home in their bodies. It’s also a story of listening: to staff, to community, and to the wisdom that healing can look like rhythm, music, and mirroring movement with a loved one. 

Molly and Grant explore the deeper truth behind all of this—how dance, so often underfunded and undervalued, is core to who we are. From weddings to cultural traditions to spontaneous joy in the living room, dance is everywhere. And as Molly reminds us, in a world that teaches us to unlearn joy, movement can help us remember. 

Key Moments: 
 
[8:25] How dance can help people with different conditions connect with their body
[14:17] Bridging science and art: finding balance between therapy and dance 
[18:45] How Malashock Dance evolved its mission through community feedback 
[29:14] Why dance is essential to the human experience 
[34:05] Federal arts funding cuts and their impact on dance's underrepresented artists and communities

Resources Mentioned in This Episode: 

• Malashock Dance – San Diego-based dance organization emphasizing community, education, and inclusive performance 
• Dance for PD – A program using dance to support those living with Parkinson’s disease 
• Prebys’ Healing Through Arts and Nature Initiative – Grants improving well-being through arts, culture, and nature 

Take Action: 

• Move Your Body – Try a dance class, stretch to music, or just let yourself move freely. Reconnect with what joy in motion feels like. 
• Attend a Performance – Support local artists and discover the power of dance to inspire, challenge, and heal. 
• Embrace Artful Living – As Dr. Maria Rosario Jackson reminds us, creativity is essential to well-being. Seek out everyday moments of artistic engagement. 
• Stay Curious – Stay open and curious to trying new things, whether it's dance, healing, or new ways to connect and feel joy.
• Support Arts & Health Programs – Donate, volunteer, or spread the word about organizations using the arts to improve lives.