Elizabeth Graham

Instructor

About

Elizabeth Graham is a Bellingham native who holds an MFA in Dance from Rutgers University, a BFA in Dance from Cornish College of the Arts, and a certification in Progressing Ballet Technique. Her teaching philosophy focuses on integrating somatic approaches into technique classes for every student to feel inspired, challenged, and encouraged while enjoying the study of dance. While performing with ReVision dance company in Washington DC, Elizabeth led and assisted outreach classes for youth and adults with disabilities while also teaching ballet, modern, and jazz as a faculty member for Joy of Motion Dance Center. Elizabeth has also taught in-person and online as a Part-time Lecturer for Rutgers University.

Elizabeth’s performance experience includes a wide variety of classical and contemporary works that have directly influenced the movement vocabulary incorporated into her classes. Works include those choreographed by Marie Chong, Tiffany Rae Fisher, Merli V. Guerra, Wade Madsen, Jason Ohlberg, Shannon Quinn, Olivier Tarpaga, Olivier Wevers, and Pavel Zustiak. Her choreographic projects include modern, contemporary ballet, and interdisciplinary experimentation of sound and video design. Elizabeth's creative research, supported by Rutgers University's MFA Dance program, explored connections between dance and mental health, which led to her development of movement and sound methods for facilitating the expression of ideas, imagery, emotions, and physical sensations. She continues to find joy in sharing her passion for dance with others and evolving her pedagogical and creative processes to include non-Western dance and facilitating online and face-to-face dance experiences. Elizabeth is thrilled to be joining the Western Washington University Dance Department in Fall 2022