I forged a relationship with the Muse in early childhood living in Northern California. My favorite moments were on stage, dancing to 80’s pop or expressing in creative states induced by playing soccer. Natural beauty of apple orchards dotting hills of the Silicon Valley and Japanese kimono sleeve views from our mountain home, along with knowing young talented artists, drew me to art- the way it’s expressed, lived and can be a healing force in the world.
In college and in Bay Area dance communities I studied Modern, Post Modern, Senegalese, Improvisation and Contemporary dance and trained in philosophy, experimental theater, Transpersonal psychology, Qigong and somatics. I held a healing practice for 10 years while developing into a full blown dance artist.
I toured North America and Europe over 16 years, performing my work and in collaboration with my musician partner.
Over three decades, collaborations with dancers, choreographers, arts collectives, arts organizations, visual artists and musicians have influenced my work. The touring life informed my video most. I began shooting in “Found Installations” or found places that were already art in and of themselves. I became a creative, communing and relating to these spaces and made video projects out of editing these documented interactions.
While living in Minneapolis in 2012 I was diagnosed with cancer and found if I couldn’t dance or even make it to the studio to choreograph, I could emphasize video. I went deep into the discipline and have continued to do so.
In an extended recovery process new embodiment healing strategies and methods emerged, as well. Now, I teach some of those findings in Embodiment Field sessions and classes.
My life partner Paul Sprawl and I have been building humble off-grid art/live spaces in the Chihuahuan desert mostly ourselves since 2014. I create, meet with clients and teach from here.
Through the pandemic I’ve put out almost fifty Lee Lee et Le Bus episodes for Vagabondstreams.org
My work with people is to liberate creativity, empower with embodiment and to stoke the creator within- through my teaching, one-on-one sessions with clients and in offering my art.
Contact me: leralee@gmail.com