Mary Murphy | |
|---|---|
 Mary Murphy in 2006 | |
| Born | Mary Ann Murphy (1958-03-09)March 9, 1958 (age 67) Lancaster, Ohio, U.S. |
| Alma mater | Ohio University |
| Occupation | Choreographer |
| Known for | Judge onSo You Think You Can Dance (2005–09, 2011–2014, 2017–2019) |
| Height | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) |
Mary Ann Murphy (born c. 1958)[1] is an Americanballroom dance champion,[2] accredited dance judge, and a judge and choreographer on theFox dance competition-reality showSo You Think You Can Dance.
Mary Murphy was born inLancaster, Ohio in anIrish family.[3] She graduated fromNorthwest High School inCanal Fulton, Ohio.[4] After graduating fromOhio University with a degree in physical education and a minor inmodern dance, Murphy moved toWashington, D.C. to begin her career.
She answered a newspaper advertisement for studio instructor trainees. She became an instructor after only one week, and the studio owner invited her to attend the United States Ballroom Championships inNew York City, which was the event that influenced her to commit to a career in ballroom dancing.[5]
Murphy moved to California and searched for a dance partner while working as an instructor. During the U.K. Open Championships in England, she met Manfred Stiglitz and a dancing partnership was formed. The two began to compete and eventually became the 1990 and 1991 Austrian National Champions. Despite their success, the constant travel and Murphy's domestic commitments took their toll. Murphy had opened theChampion Ballroom Academy inSan Diego in 1990 and found it difficult splitting herself between these two obligations.
For the next five years she went on to build a list of accomplishments with partners based in California, earning titles at the Southwest Regional Dance Tournament, the Saint Louis Star Ball, and the International Grand Ball. With partner Bill Milner, Murphy made the U.S. Open Standard final in an unprecedented six months. Finally, in 1996, she and partner Jim Desmond made the final of the U.S. Open American Smooth and won theU.S. Open American Nine Dance.[6] She retired from competition and shifted her focus toward her dance academy.
She acted as a dance double forJulia Roberts in the movieSomething to Talk About and appeared inDance With Me, starringVanessa L. Williams.
She appeared in the 2010 movieDegrassi Takes Manhattan as a worker at a casino wedding chapel.[7]
She currently runs her dance studio and organizes aLos Angeles dance competition, the Hollywood Dancesport Championships.[8] She frequently serves as a judge in several competitions, including the U.S. National Ballroom Championships.
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Murphy was part of the original guest judge and choreographer pool whenseason 1 began in 2005. In 2006, forseason 2, she made increasing appearances at the judging table. In 2007, prior toseason 3, Murphy was announced as a permanent judge, a position previously held only byNigel Lythgoe.
In 2008, Murphy made guest appearances on international versions ofSo You Think You Can Dance, includingSo You Think You Can Dance Australia,So You Think You Can Dance Canada andSo You Think You Can Dance Scandinavia.
In 2008, Murphy reprised her role as judge onseason 4 with fellow regular, Nigel Lythgoe, and on the season finale, performed a surprise samba withDmitry Chaplin. Murphy continued as a weekly permanent judge onseason 5 andseason 6.
Forseason 7, it was announced thatMia Michaels would replace Murphy as permanent judge. Although absent most of the season, Murphy appeared with a seat at the judging table for Vegas Week as well as the final episode. In 2011, she returned to replace Mia Michaels as a permanent judge forseason 8.
| Season | Dancers | Style | Music |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ashlé Dawson Jamile McGee | Jive | Jim Dandy –LaVern Baker |
| Melody Lacayanga Craig DeRosa | |||
| Kamilah Barrett Nick Lazzarini | Tango | Tanguedia – Prandi Sound Dance Orchestra | |
| Ashlé Dawson Blake McGrath | Samba | Jazz Machine – Black Machine | |
| Melody Lacayanga Nick Lazzarini | Paso Doble | España cañí – Boston Pops Orchestra | |
| 2 | Jessica Fernandez Jaymz Tuaileva | Foxtrot | Why Don't You Do Right? –Sinéad O'Connor |
| Ashlee Nino Ben Susak | Jive | Great Balls of Fire –Jerry Lee Lewis | |
| Top 14 | Footloose – Kenny Loggins (Soundtrack:Footloose) | ||
| Heidi Groskreutz Travis Wall | Paso Doble | Plaza of Execution –James Horner (Soundtrack:Zorro - The Mask of Zorro) | |
| Donyelle Jones Dmitry Chaplin | Samba | Hey Mama –The Black Eyed Peas | |
| Natalie Fotopoulos Dmitry Chaplin | Magaleñha – Sérgio Mendes | ||
| 4 | Mary Murphy Dmitry Chaplin | Samba | Baila, Baila –Angela Via |
From December 22, 2009, to January 10, 2010, Murphy headlined theBroadway ballroom dance showBurn the Floor.[9] She was partnered withVaidas Skimelis.[10]
Murphy returned to the touring cast ofBurn the Floor in September and October 2010, with performances in San Jose and San Diego, once again partnered with Vaidas Skimelis.[10]
Murphy has been married three times and revealed that during her first marriage, which lasted nine years, she was a victim ofdomestic abuse. In October 2010, onLarry King Live, she said she was finally speaking out so that other victims could learn how she endured, but escaped, domestic violence. Her first husband denies physically or mentally abusing her.[11]
In 2008, Murphy divorced amicably with her third husband, Phillip Gott, who remains an employee of her ballroom dance academy.[12] On May 28, 2011, Murphy announced that she made amends with her second husband in his final days battling cancer.[13] On July 22, 2011, Murphy stated in her online blog "As we said goodbye to the contestants, I'm also saying goodbye to my ex husband today, as cancer has taken another special person from my life. Even though our marriage did not work out, we became good friends. I will miss him and I will always love him."[14]
In 2011, during the announcements of Murphy's return as a permanent judge for season 8 ofSo You Think You Can Dance, it was revealed that she had undergone treatment forthyroid cancer. Although there was a possibility that she would never be able to speak again, she is now cancer-free with vocal cords intact.[15]
Mary Murphy, 51...