Lisa Kwak is performing artist (dancer, singer, actor) based in New York City and Seattle, whose professional experience expands across an array of dance and theater genres. She is a constantly curious artist that loves to develop connection through art.
Lisa has performed with companies and theaters including Ronald K Brown/EVIDENCE Dance Company as an apprentice, Chamber Dance Company (Dir, Hannah C Wiley, Rachael Lincoln), Alana O Rogers Dance, Village Theatre, 5th Avenue Theatre, dani tirrell & the Congregation, Gansango Dance Company (Dir. Etienne Cakpo), The Guild Dance Company (Dir. Alex Ung), PRICEarts (Dir. Noel Price-Bracey and Tessa Banales), the Three Yells (Dir. Veronica Lee Bek). Lisa has performed works by Dr. S. Ama Wray, Jennifer Boissiere, Kara Beadle, Camille A. Brown, Gary Champi, Emma Conrad, Jeffrey Frace, Mark Haim, Kai Kohring, Leslie Kraus, Cameo Lethem, Rachael Lincoln, Majinn, Juliet McMains, Alyza Delpan Monley, Chrissy Montoya & Joshua Grant, m00nyeka, Meredith Pellon, David Rousseve, Ayaka Shapiro, Shapiro & Smith, Zoe Scofield, Syd Thiebaut, Kaye Tuckerman, and Warren Woo, among others.
As a dance maker, Lisa was selected as a 2021 Village Theatre Northwest Creator Resident, and has created works for numerous festivals and companies. Her most recent work was seen at Diffraction Dance Festival in New York City. Other works were presented at Show 6 produced by CO- Seattle, BOOST Dance Festival produced by eXitSPACE, and PORTALS produced by Velocity Dance Center. Her dance films have been presented at the Strictly Seattle Dance Festival, Local Sightings Film Festival, and Fuselage Dance Film Festival. Lisa was the associate choreographer of Chicago (Ballyhoo Theatre) to Mackenzie Neusiok, and has been rehearsal assistants for Alethea Alexander, Etienne Cakpo, and Ronald K. Brown & Arcell Cabuag.
Photo by Steve Korn
Lisa holds a BA from the University of Washington with majors in dance and international studies. Some academic achievements include the University of Washington Dean's Medal for the College of Arts & Sciences division of the Arts, the George and Barbara Akers Scholarship, the Jackson School of International Studies Undergraduate Book Award the Dance Program Scholarship Award, the Purple and Gold Scholarship and Annual Dean’s List for all four years at her time at the UW, and membership to Phi Beta Kappa. While at the UW, she studied abroad in San Sebastián, Spain, Rome, Italy, and in New York City, New York. Lisa has also studied at the Ronald K. Brown/ EVIDENCE Dance Company Summer Intensive as a Beth Young Scholarship recipient, David Dorfman Dance Summer and Winter Intensives, the Doug Varone Winter Intensive, Hubbard Street Summer Intensive, San Francisco Conservatory of Dance Summer Intensive, Strictly Seattle (Dance Film Track), and Seattle Festival of Dance Improv. Lisa also has comedy improv training from the Upright Citizens Brigade (101, 201).
Lisa was born and raised in Japan where she lived for 18 years within the international-school community of Tokyo. Her multicultural background of mixed Korean, Japanese, and American heritage informs her perspective. At the heart of Lisa's practice, is the belief that dance, theater, and the arts are a tool of resilience for individuals and communities. She works to perform and create art that will celebrate the human condition in all its pain, joy, and beauty.