Lea Torelli began dancing at the tender age of three when she had way too much energy and her parents couldn’t decide what to do with her anymore. Coincidentally, dance became a lifelong passion that continues to grow to this day. Lea’s training in her formative years consisted mainly of jazz and ballet, with minor forays into hip hop. Lea is not a hip hop dancer. Do not hire Lea for hip hop gigs. She will only embarrass herself and you.

 

Lea began to broaden her training at Muhlenberg College, where she discovered the world of modern and concert dance. There she had the opportunity to work with guest artist Shapiro & Smith Dance in a restaging of their beloved work “To Have and to Hold”. She’s had works set on her by Muhlenberg professors such as Jeffrey Peterson and Teresa Van Denend Sorge. She participated in the Muhlenberg Circus ensemble as an aerialist and dancer. Lea was a company member in Six Meters, an improvisation company under the tutelage of Susan Creitz, a former Alwin Nikolais dancer. The company does community outreach in elementary schools and elderly homes. Lea studied abroad in Arezzo, Italy for a semester at the Accademia Dell’Arte. There she was able to experience a broader range of disciplines such as Butoh, Tarantella, and Tanz Theatre as well as continue her ballet and modern training.

 

Outside of higher education, Lea has continued to expand as an artist through summer programs. She has participated in the Doug Varone Summer Intensive, the Samuel Scripps Six Week School at the American Dance Festival, Bates Dance Festival, and b12. She's been lucky enough to work with and learn from many esteemed artists.

 

Lea has presented work in a multitude of settings ranging from large proscenium stages to intimate studio productions with a three-quarter audience. Her choreography has been seen at Mark Morris Dance Center, Triskelion Arts, and the HATCH Presenting Series. She often collaborates with Futile Gestures as a choreographer, dancer, and administrator.

 

As a dancer, Lea currently works with Nikki and the Noise and Spaces of Fontana. In the past she has worked with Thea Little, Beth Soll and Company, Kelley Donovan and Dancers, Regina Nejman & Company, Kinematik Dance Theatre, Post Election Therapy, Reber Dance, and the Atlas Circus Company.