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Kiesha Lalama, M.F.A.

Professor
Director of Jazz Unit

Pictured is Kiesha Lalama.

Contact Information

Education

  • M.F.A., Interdisciplinary Arts, Goddard College
  • B.A., Dance, Point Park University

Courses Taught

  • Jazz Dance Technique
  • Dance Composition I, II
  • Senior Project
  • Choreography

Background

Choreographer and educator Kiesha Lalama has created more than 40 works to date. Her conceived and choreographed full-length dance theatre production, The Bench, received rave reviews and was honored to be named to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's "Best of Dance" Top Ten list in 2009 and 2010. Lalama has created works for companies such as Ballet Arkansas, Eisenhower Dance Ensemble, Houston Metropolitan Dance Company, Jazz Dance World Congress, Missouri Contemporary Ballet, the Youth American Grand Prix, Kansas City Starlight Theatre and the film Sorority Row.

Lalama has taught classes and workshops for Cirque Du Soleil, Giordano Jazz Dance Chicago, Houston Metropolitan Dance Company, Eisenhower Dance Ensemble, Oakland University, Carnegie Mellon University, Wright State University, Chautauqua Regional Youth Ballet, Booker T. Washington H.S. for the Performing and Visual Arts and Dance Educators of America.

Lalama is currently working on premiering two new works choreographed for Wright State University and the Dayton Contemporary Dance Company.

Professional Affiliations

  • Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera, education director
  • National High School Musical Theater Awards, project director and choreographer

Selected Choreographed Works

  • Bound in Before
  • The Bench, full-length dance theatre production
  • The Perks of Being a Wallflower, film
  • The National High School Musical Theater Awards on Broadway, featured in the PBS series Broadway or Bust
  • All Shook Up, North Shore Music Theatre
  • Alegria, Giordano Jazz Dance Chicago
  • Torque, August Wilson Center Dance Ensemble
  • A Grand Night for Singing, Pittsburgh CLO Cabaret Theater

Research Interests

  • Aerial dance
  • Civic engagement and community audience development

Selected Award and Honors

  • Named as one of Dance Magazine's "25 to Watch," 2009.
  • Leo's Award for Choreography, Jazz Dance World Congress.
  • Named one of the "Top 12" and recipient of the Outstanding Choreography Award, The Youth American Grand Prix.

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