Karen McClain Marvin was born and raised in Crown Heights, Brooklyn. Her love for dance began at the age of 8, when her mother enrolled her in ballet and tap classes at Star Time Dance Studios in Brooklyn, so that she would learn poise. (She was knock-kneed, pigeon-toed and shy). That experience culminated with a brief appearance on a local TV show called “Star Time”. Karen didn’t engage with dance again until college when she joined the student-led Burundi African Dance Troupe. Following college, Karen continued to search for her place in dance by taking various classes at the YWCA because dance schools were too intimidating. She dabbled in ballet, tap, modern dance, and even belly dancing, with no particular focus.

In 1994 Karen was the Manager of Wellness Programs at the NY Times, while she maintained a private psychotherapy practice in NYC, and served as an Adjunct Professor of Social Work at Mercy College in Dobbs Ferry. At that time, Karen’s son, Ian, and Audrey’s son, Robert, attended the same afterschool program and decided their mothers should meet. The initial conversation between Karen and Audrey led to Karen joining Audrey’s class in 1995. In modern jazz dance classes, Karen realized she had found her place. As a founding MoJazz member, Karen learned about technique, and grew in skill and confidence, while overcoming some of her shyness. In finding her place, she had also found a family of dance sistahs who are supportive, inclusive and a joy to be with! Karen is semi-retired from her private psychotherapy practice and is following her passion through her commitment to MoJazz. She resides with her husband in Westchester, and rarely misses a MoJazz Dance class, rehearsal, or performance. “It’s been one of the most joyful experiences of my life!”