Lara Murphy is a native of Miami, Florida, who trained with Martha Mahr and Thomas Armour. After graduating from the New World School of the Arts High School, she earned a BA from New York University and an MA from the University of Miami. While pursuing her academic studies, Murphy performed with the Miami Ballet, Washington Square Repertory Company, 3D Dance Company, and Juegos del Arte. A founding member of Maximum Dance Company and Miami Contemporary Dance Company, she performed classical and contemporary ballets throughout the US, South America, and Europe. Lara Murphy has choreographed works for Miami Contemporary Dance Company, The Nutcracker (Act 2) for the Thomas Armour Youth Ballet, and various contemporary ballets for NWSA. At NWSA since 2002, she has taught ballet, composition, aesthetics, and dance production. Additionally, Murphy has been a guest teacher at the National High School Dance Festival, the National College Dance Festival, and the Florida Dance Festival. In 2011 she choreographed Concert for a New Renaissance, a gala concert by Latin Grammy Award Winner Nestor Torres. She has also choreographed and coached works for multiple finalists of the American Ballet Competition and the NFAA YoungArts competition.