Leah M. Friedman
I am an Arizona-based dancer, creator, and researcher. Originally from Philadelphia, PA, I moved to Tempe, AZ in August, 2022 to start a PhD program at Arizona State University and dance in the southwest. I have performed and worked with Philadanco! The Philadelphia Dance Company, Philadanco’s D/2, Dawn Marie Bazemore/#dbdanceproject, and Waheedworks, and have presented work with Philly FringeArts (2021), Proteo Media (2020, 2021) and thINKingDANCE (2020). I teach Graham technique, contemporary, and improv classes, and hold a B.S. in Cognitive Neuroscience from Drexel University.
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Currently, I am working with CONDER/dance and am open to work opportunities as a dance or teaching artist in Phoenix, AZ.
Recent Projects and Upcoming Events
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Entering my second season as a company with CONDER/dance
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Ongoing development of a solo work, recently performed at PHX Tiny Dances 2023
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Former collaborator with WaheedWorks (2021-2022, directed by Tommie Waheed-Evans)
Artist Statement
Physicality is my link between the logical and the spiritual/emotional parts of the world. When I'm stuck in the logical, I escape with movement. When I'm trapped in the emotional/spiritual, I ground myself with movement. When the binary between the two is particularly strong, dance is the only thing that makes sense. To dance and move and facilitate movement is to make more links in the world.
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My most fulfilling experiences as a dancer and creator push me to explore the connection between the logical and emotional in myself, to digest + translate those experiences, and to help others feel the connection. I enjoy coming up with physical approaches to understanding our inner and outer worlds, and hope to facilitate opening that link for others, whether it's through performing works about rocks, creating multimedia art about life cycles, or teaching improvisation and Graham technique.
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Image Credits: Jeff Somers (@impressions.life), German Vazquez (@g.vazquezphoto)