A native Atlantan, Shealeta Murden Reed is a “Grady baby” born during the great era of the fifties. She attended Clark College, where she was awarded a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration in 1975. During this time, she worked as a substitute teacher in Atlanta Public Schools for 2 years: teaching general subjects and modern dance.  

 

In 1966, after working with Judith Myrick, Arts Director of Atlanta Public schools, she developed a profound love for dance, drama, and the arts.  This was the beginning of her journey, developing the disciplines of dance and teaching others. During the start of her corporate career in corporate America, Shealeta worked for C&S Bank in Trust Real Estate: Coverdale Insurance Company, Administrative Support: AT&T, Management: Hosea Feed the Hungry, Project Management and Personal Assistant: Care Net PRC, Executive Director and Human Coalition, Development Director.

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In pursuit of dance training and performance, in 1967, Shealeta began training and performing with Val Jean’s Dance Youth Performers, showcasing annually at the Ebony Fashion Show.   Her stage experience led to becoming a premiere dancer opening for   Fashion showcases by Brad Van Williams and other local Designers. She continued to develop her dance and performance as a company member with the Atlanta University Dance Company, Barbara Sullivan's Atlanta Dance Theater, and training at the Atlanta Ballet, Alvin Ailey workshop instructors, Modern dance choreographer Bill Mackey and African Dance Master Teacher King Farouk.  

 

Shealeta impacted her community by empowering individuals through the art of dance. As a choreographer and instructor, she taught at Atlanta area Schools (Crogman Elementary, Gideon Elementary, W. L. Parks, Brownsmill Elementary, Northside School of Performing Arts).  Her community empowerment through dance was extended to the Prison System from  1990- 2006.  As a volunteer she, taught dance classes at Metro State Prison for 13 years, including a major performance hosted by Chaplin Suzan Bishop which allowed the community to see the power of dance therapy over the locked up and forgotten.   Other prison performance locations include the Atlanta Federal Penitentiary, Prison systems in Georgia, Florida, Alabama, and Nairobi Kenya. 

 

Shealeta is the founder and CEO of Ministry In Motion International Dance Theatre, incorporated in March 2006.   Her work through the arts is dedicated to delivering the gospel of Jesus Christ through dance, drama, creative writing, music appreciation, and the word of God.   In the beginning, there were only two dancers (Shealeta and Barbara Bulls).  Demand was created by those seeing the power of God hrough their dance.  News traveled and invitations to minister poured in.  In 2001, parents began to inquire about training from the two.  This led to the formation of the Children's School of dance,  located at the church facility of Cross Culture Church.  A studio was built in the West Wing of the facility.  The very students she trained for over 10 years were now company members and instructors for the Children's School. Her daughter, Desaree Byrd Murden, MBA Georgia State University, served as Artistic Director and choreographer.  Shealeta also worked with choreographer/dancer Honara Turner, MBA Wesleyan College: Juanita Ramey, North Carolina State Dance Company, MBA  and  Sharel Johnson, MBA Spelman College,  premiere dancer with T Lang Company. It was their contribution and support which contributed to growth,  longevity and artistic excellence for Company Members and  The Children's School of Ministry In Motion, Inc. International Dance Theatre.

 

Shealeta and her company have performed throughout Georgia, Hawaii, California, Alabama, Florida,  and other places in the United States. The audiences are diverse communities, Nursing Homes, Arts Festivals, Health Fairs, Orphanages, Weddings, Schools and Churches.  Performances include annual concerts at Cross Culture Church, 14th. Street Playhouse and Synchronicity Theatre. 

 

Some of the local and state community performance events are:                                                                        

•  Hosea Feed the Hungry Holiday Dinners, Atlanta GA

•  Maximum Impact Love Community Event, Atlanta, GA

•  Just Churchin at Greenbrier Mall, Atlanta, GA

•  Kingdom Investment Ministry, Atlanta, GA

•  Dr. Cindy Trimm Ministries, FL

• Words Congress Center-Reinhart Bonnke Crusade

•  Native American Conference,  Lake Junaluska, NC

• We Speak to Nations Conference, Honolulu Hawaii

• Morehouse School of Medicine Health and Wellness Fair

• The Love of Giving, Inc., Atlanta, GA

 

Shealeta is an Ordained Minister at Cross Culture Church, Director of the Praise and Worship Dance Ministry and the Director of MIM Children’s School of Dance.   She is also a  Missionary who has ministered in the dance evangelizing throughout the world.  She and her company Ministry In Motion, Inc. have performed internationally in the Philippines, Haiti, India, St. Vincent West Indies, Kampala Uganda, Nairobi Kenya, and Brazil.  

 

Other dance experiences in the area of Theatre and Movies include:

• Jomandi Productions 

• Theatre of the Stars

• Just Us Theatre

• David Scott Narrations of Langston Hughes – Back to School Special

• House on Skull Mountain - Movie

• Eddie Billups -The Gospel Show

• Ojeda Pin in Concert at Atlanta Civic Center

 

Shealeta continues to empower individuals through her teaching, choreography, dance, and love for the arts.  Her vision remains to reach, teach, and empower.​

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