Today we have Lizzie Leopold with us to talk about her life in dance…

1.      How did you become involved in dance?

I was actually a competitive gymnast growing up and was continually injuring my knees and ankles.  My body just wasn’t built for the wear and tear of tumbling, so dance was a way for me to continue to be physical with a little less risk.  In the end, dance has offered my a life-long pursuit in a way that I don’t think gymnastics ever could.

2.      What are you doing now in the dance world?

Right now, I am 6 months out of my Masters in Performance Studies (from NYU) and am transitioning back from classroom and computer to studio and theater.  My thesis work dealt with the intersection of choreography and commerce – asking how the business of making dance affects the dance itself.  I am working to bring all of the theory and scholarship of my school work back into practice and make sure that all of the words become a part of the choreography.  In other words, I’m trying to connect my brain and my body – something I hope I will do for the rest of my time as a choreographer. [Read more…]