Likely inspired and motivated by her father who was a jazz pianist, Colleen Cavanaugh began ballet lessons at age four in her native Rhode Island. Dance remained an integral part of her early years.

After graduating from Wheaton College with a degree in Art History, she moved to NYC to continue dancing. Alfredo Corvino and his Dance Circle Studio inspired and educated her. The studio became her home. There were daily classes, best friendships formed and connections made which led to work with many choreographers. After almost a decade In NYC, she returned to Rhode Island.

Her quest to further understand anatomy and physiology led to the study of medicine. She received a medical degree from Brown University’s Alpert School of Medicine. After completing her residency, she began to choreograph for several local ballet companies. She then formed her own company, Cadence Dance Project. This group of beautiful, professional dancers performed throughout Rhode Island. Her choreography received several awards from Rhode Island State Council on the Arts and two of her ballets were presented in Ballet Builders, a judicated NYC showcase for choreography.

Several years later she founded the non profit dance company Part of the Oath which integrated dance and spoken word in multimedia performances. These were collaborations with other artists, teens and young adults. Part of the Oath’s workshops and performances explored issues such as bullying, gender identity, eating disorders, and mental illness. Its mission was to foster a supportive community of expression, sharing and healing.