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 Etienne Cakpo, Gary Champi, Leslie Kraus, Rachael Lincoln, Wilson Mendieta, David Rousseve, Zoe Scofield, Katy Tabb, dani tirrell, Maleek Washington, Ebony Williams, Kevin Williamson, Dr. S Ama Wray, among others. Lisa has performed with companies including the Chamber Dance Company, PRICEArts Never Ending Work (N.E.W)., The Guild Dance Company, The Three Yells, and was a 2021 Village Theatre Northwest Creator Resident. She has performed in festivals across Seattle including Seattle International Dance Festival (SIDF), Seattle Festival of Dance Improvisation (SFDI), TINT Dance Festival, Converge Dance Festival, and Intersections Festival.
Her musical theater credits include 5th Avenue's world premiere of AFTERWORDS directed by Adrienne Campbell-Holt, and Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella, at Village Theatre directed by Desdemona Chiang.
Lisa's creations have been presented at Strictly Seattle DanceFestival, PRICEarts InSHOP, Velocity Dance Center's PORTALS, and was recently selected as a choreographer for BOOST Dance Festival produced by eXitSPACE.
Lisa is proud to have been a rehearsal assistant for artists such as Ronald K. Brown & Arcell Cabuag, Etienne Cakpo, and Alethea Alexander. She has also been a teachers assistant to Hannah C. Wiley.
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).
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