Lisa Gelley

Lisa Gelley is a performer, teacher, choreographer, and mother, living and working on the traditional, ancestral, unceded territory of the Coast Salish Peoples. She received her training in classical, contemporary, and urban dance forms in Canada and abroad in Europe. In 2007-8, she trained and performed as a guest interpreter at Le Groupe Dance Lab in Ottawa under the direction of Peter Boneham. She has traveled to Tel Aviv, Israel where she carried out two intensive periods of study in Gaga and Batsheva Dance Company repertoire with Ohad Naharin. Lisa's main focus is now co-directing Company 605, a contemporary dance company in Vancouver, creating original works through collaborative processes with artists in dance and other disciplines. The company tours regularly through Canada and Internationally, and has also created commissions for companies including Ballet BC. Lisa has worked with artists such as Dana Gingras, Justine A. Chambers, Cindy Mochizuki, Amber Funk Barton, Vanessa Goodman, Martha Carter, Karen Jamieson, and was a member of Aeriosa (Julia Taffe) for six years, broadening her practice to include vertical contemporary dance in rock climbing systems on urban building walls and mountains. In addition to her work as a performer/choreographer, Lisa values opportunities to connect with young dancers and emerging professionals through contemporary dance education in Vancouver. Lisa is the recipient of the 2015 Vancouver International Dance Festival Choreographic Award.