This thesis discusses my journey towards culturally empowered somatic self-authority as a biracial African American and Irish American woman, dancer, choreographer, educator, and dance studio owner. I document the ways that cultural bias has affected my professional and educational journey and I explore how the dances that I made for partial fulfillment of my MFA degree reflect my cultural empowerment and newly claimed somatic self-authority. By “somatic self-authority,” I refer to the deep, inner thoughts, feelings, and ideas that govern how I sense, feel, and execute the movement for myself and others that appears in my choreography. I have found a greater sense of pride and affirmation in my choreographic choices throughout my artistic evolution. Throughout my thesis, I also comment on the influence that various dance scholars and somatic practitioners have had on my journey towards culturally empowered somatic self-authority.