In Loving Memory
1964 – 2020
A Teacher, Mentor, Journalist, Dancer, Friend & Phenomenal Woman
Karyn D. Collins was a master dance teacher currently on faculty at the King Centre for the Performing Arts. Miss Karyn also choreographed for the American Youth Dance Company. A master teacher, Miss Karyn taught for numerous organizations and college and high school dance programs. Miss Karyn helped to train numerous regional and national title winners. Students she helped train have also been accepted by some of the top collegiate dance programs in this country and have performed in music videos, on Broadway, national and international touring companies, cruise ships, and regional theatre. A native of Chicago, Miss Karyn received her primary training from Christine DuBoulay and Richard Ellis of the Sadlers Wells-Royal Ballet (ballet), Tommy Sutton (tap) and Pattie Obey and Claire Bataille (jazz). She also was a protégé of Arthur Mitchell and Karel Shook of the Dance Theatre of Harlem. In addition, Miss Karyn was an award-winning journalist whose work covering the arts and culture had been widely published. She served as an adjunct professor in journalism and communications at Rutgers University, William Paterson University, Seton Hall University and Bloomfield College.
“I will not stop dancing because you are not with me; I will dance forever because you are within me.”
Miss Karyn has influenced, supported, and inspired so many people in so many ways over the course of her life. She taught and instilled in all of us – to dream, to work hard, to be strong, to inspire others with passion and humor, to love and to never give up. This scholarship is geared towards helping financially supporting members and students of the New Jersey Foundation for Dance and Theatre Arts.
The “Karyn Collins Memorial Scholarship Fund” was created to honor the memory of a teacher, mentor, journalist, dancer, but most of all a friend; our dearly beloved and greatly missed, Karyn D. Collins.