Lisa Kwak is a performing artist based on Duwamish Land in Seattle, WA. She has danced works by Camille A. Brown, Shapiro & Smith, and worked with artists including Jenny Boissiere, Etienne Cakpo, Gary Champi, Leslie Kraus, Rachael Lincoln, Majinn Michael O'Neal, Wilson Mendieta, Christopher Montoya, Moonyeka, Robbi Moore, Meredith Pellon, David Rousseve, Zoe Scofield, Ayako Shapiro, Katy Tabb, dani tirrell, Maleek Washington, Ebony Williams, Kevin Williamson, Warren Woo, and Dr. S Ama Wray, among others. Lisa has performed with companies including the Chamber Dance Company directed by Hannah C. Wiley and Rachael Lincoln, PRICEArts Never Ending Work (N.E.W). directed by Noel Price-Bracey and Tessa Banales, The Guild Dance Company directed by Alex Ung, and The Three Yells, directed by Veronica Lee-Baik.
Her musical theater credits include 5th Avenue Theatre's world premiere of AFTERWORDS, as well as Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella, and Hello, Dolly! at Village Theatre.
Lisa has performed in dance festivals across Seattle including the Seattle International Dance Festival (SIDF), STG presents DANCE this, Seattle Festival of Dance Improvisation (SFDI), TINT Dance Festival, Converge Dance Festival, and Intersections Festival.
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A 2021 Village Theatre Northwest Creator Resident, Lisa's choreography has been presented at the Strictly Seattle Dance Festival, Local Sightings Film Festival, Fuselage Dance Film Festival, PRICEarts InSHOP, Soft Concrete, Velocity Dance Center's PORTALS, and BOOST Dance Festival produced by eXitSPACE.
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Lisa holds a BA from the University of Washington with majors in dance and international studies. Lisa's academic awards include the University of Washington Dean's Medal for the College of Arts & Sciences division of the Arts (2018), the George and Barbara Akers Scholarship (2017), the Jackson School of International Studies Undergraduate Book Award (2018), the Dance Program Scholarship Award (2017), and the Purple and Gold Scholarship (2014 - 2018), and she was also elected to Phi Beta Kappa, and on the Annual Dean's List (2014-2018).
Lisa has attended the Ronald K. Brown/ EVIDENCE Dance Company summer intensive as a Beth Young Scholarship recipient. She also attended summer intensives at Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, and San Francisco Conservatory of Dance.
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At the heart of Lisa's practice, is the belief that dance and theater have the power to inspire positive change and is a tool of resilience and medicine for individuals and communities. She works to perform and create art that will celebrate the human condition in all its pain, joy, and beauty.
Photo by Steve Korn