Kiesha Lalama is featured choreographer in Dynamic Women of Dance Friday, March 9, 2012
Kiesha Lalama, assistant professor in Point Park's Conservatory of Performing Arts, is one of four choreographers featured in this week's Dynamic Women of Dance at the August Wilson Center for African American Culture.
Dynamic Women of Dance run March 9-10 at 8 p.m. at the August Wilson Center in downtown Pittsburgh.
Lalama's work is called Torque. Other pieces in the concert are choreographed by Sidra Bell (Sidra Bell Dance New York), Camille A. Brown (Camille A. Brown & Dancers) and Kim Bears-Bailey (Philadanco).
All are performed by the August Wilson Center Dance Ensemble, a professional home for many Point Park alumni since its inception including Kaylin Horgan, Kendra Dennard, Nalia Ansari, James Washington, Annalee Traylor and Michael Bagne. The August Wilson Center Dance Ensemble is under the direction of Greer Reed, founding artistic director.
"We were able to take the piece to the next level," said Lalama about her work with the ensemble. "I challenged them and they challenged me, and when you get into a situation like that, magic happens."
Kiesha Lalama has created more than 30 works to date. She conceived and choreographed The Bench, the Conservatory Dance Company'a full-length dance theatre production named to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's "Best of Dance" top ten list in 2009 and 2010. Lalama choreographed for the film The Perks of Being a Wallflower and the National High School Musical Theater Awards on Broadway. Lalama has also created works for companies such as Ballet Arkansas, Eisenhower Dance Ensemble, Giordano Jazz Dance Chicago, Houston Metropolitan Dance Company, Jazz Dance World Congress, Missouri Contemporary Ballet, the Youth American Grand Prix and the film Sorority Row.
Lalama was named one of Dance Magazine's "25 to Watch" in 2009 and has been awarded a Leo's Award for choreography at the Jazz Dance World Congress. The Youth American Grand Prix has twice named Lalama to the coveted "Top 12" and honored her with the Outstanding Choreography Award.
Lalama teaches classes in Point Park's jazz concentration and choreographs student productions, concerts and exhibitions.
Tickets to Dynamic Women of Dance are available at www augustwilsoncenter.org or www.trustarts.org by calling 412-338-8742.