In Memoriam: December 21, 1970-May 2, 2025

Misty Owens began her dance training at her mother’s dance studio, London School of Dance in Garland, Texas, where she studied tap and ballet. She began teaching classes at the studio at the early age of 15. Misty expanded her dance training at the Arts Magnet High School, now known as Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts.

Upon graduation, Misty received a full scholarship to study dance at the University of New Mexico where she not only earned her Bachelor degree, but also performed in the internationally recognized Bill Evans Dance Company.

Following her dream, Misty moved to New York City, where she danced with the Peggy Spina Tap Company in New York City for 20 years, performing in such venues as Jacob’s Pillow. She taught at Marymount Manhattan College, Long Island University—Brooklyn, and The School at the Mark Morris Dance Center where she was a faculty member teaching multiple dance styles and served as the Artistic Director of Student Companies I & II.

Misty was one of the three Founding Teachers of the Dance for PD® classes, launched as a nonprofit collaboration between the Mark Morris Dance Group and the Brooklyn Parkinson Group in New York. The program has since expanded to 250 communities in 24 countries. Misty wrote about the Dance for PD program that she co-founded in fulfilling her MFA at the University of Wisconsin—Milwaukee. She has trained other teachers in the Dance for PD® approach and presented the program at conferences and symposiums in the U.S., Canada and England.

Misty returned to Dallas, Texas, after 12 years of teaching, choreographing and performing in New York City. In 2016, Misty was commissioned by the Dallas Museum of Art to create four months of collaborative art and dance classes at the DMA with members of the local Dance for PD® classes. As a result of this pilot program, an ongoing program became a monthly series of informative Art Classes and Dance for PD® Movement Sessions in the Dallas Museum of Art.

Misty’s teaching outreach in Dallas included a broad age range from young children to centenarians in both public and private settings. She co-directed London School of Dance; taught at the University of Texas—Dallas; led Dance for PD® classes through the Dallas Area Parkinson Society and TITAS/DANCE UNBOUND; instructed Dance for Movement Disorders at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital—Dallas; and conducted Memory Care Adaptive Dance at Senior Living Centers.

Little did Misty know that when she said, “In dance class, participants are liberated from their disease—because expression is so valuable for just bringing you back to who you are, taking away the mask of the disease,” that she would be foreshadowing her own challenges with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). With the unbridled tenacity and indomitable spirt that guided her throughout her life, two years after receiving the devastating diagnosis, Misty was still working full-time at UTD, her mom’s studio, conducting Dance for PD Zoom classes, and driving herself to class while teaching from a powered wheel chair.

Misty’s classes fed the souls of her students. And, her students fed her. Bobbi Myers said of Misty’s classes “It’s more than just a dance class; it’s a community support system. We care about each other, and we try to support each other as we travel through this journey with Parkinson’s and other movement disorders.” No matter how sick she was, Misty always became the comforter for the legions of family and friends that cared for her. In Misty’s words, “remember our circle doesn’t end.”

Misty was preceded in death by her father, Bobby Owens. She is survived by her beloved mother, Gwen Owens; sisters, Monique Owens and Michele Owens; niece, Rebecca Pearce; and uncle, David Robinson and extended family.

The family expresses their deepest gratitude to Misty’s caregivers, Martha Balderas and Kenda Parrie. Also, the Houston Methodist Neurological Institute ALS Clinic; the University of Texas—Dallas; Faith Presbyterian Hospice; and countless friends and supporters for their compassion and contributions to Misty’s wellbeing.