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Kiesha Lalama

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Kiesha Lalama BIO

Choreographer, Kiesha Lalama has created more than 50 works to date. Kiesha choreographed feature film, The Perks of Being a Wallflower, Sorority Row and hit television documentary series Broadway or Bust (PBS). Theatrical credits include National High School Musical Theater Awards (Broadway), All Shook Up (North Shore Music Theatre), Jesus Christ Superstar (Kansas City Starlight Theatre), and Judge Jackie Justice, Ruthless! The Musical, and A Grand Night for Singing (Pittsburgh CLO). Concert dance highlights include Shed (DCDC), Alegria (Giordano Dance Chicago), and Torque (August Wilson Center Dance Ensemble).

Lalama has created two full-length contemporary dance theater productions. The Bench received rave reviews and was named by the Pittsburgh Post Gazette’s “Best of Dance” Top Ten list in both 2009 and 2010. The Bench is currently under commercial development with Titus Theatricals. HeartShakes for DCDC will launch the World Premiere in January 2015.

Lalama has also choreographed works and events for diverse companies such as Ballet Arkansas, Eisenhower Dance Ensemble, Houston Metropolitan Dance Company, Jazz Dance World Congress, Missouri Contemporary Ballet, the Youth American Grand Prix, Opening events for PNC Park, Pittsburgh CLO Guild Ball, WQED Elsie Awards, Richard Rogers Awards, and Tech 50 Awards.

In 2009, Kiesha Lalama was named one of Dance Magazine’s “25 to Watch” 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 numerous Outstanding Choreography Awards.

As an educator, Kiesha serves as an Associate Professor in the Point Park University Dance Department and as the Education Director for the Pittsburgh CLO. She has taught master classes and workshops for Cirque Du Soleil, Houston Metropolitan Dance Company, Eisenhower Dance Ensemble, Oakland University, Carnegie Mellon University, Wright State University, Chautauqua Regional Youth Ballet, Booker T. Washington H.S. for the Performing and Visual Arts, and Dance Educators of America.

Kiesha Lalama graduated with an MFA in Interdisciplinary Arts from Goddard College and has her BA in Dance from Point Park University. Kiesha is a proud member of SDC.

Current creative projects include a full-length dance theater piece titled HeartShakes for DCDC, choreography of Into the Woods for DreamCatcher Theatre, and an original dance work for Dance Kaleidoscope. For the most recent updates and news, find Kiesha on Facebook and Twitter.

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Point Park University Conservatory of Performing Arts Students Will Present ARTFULLY UPLIFING This March


 On Saturday, March 30th at 2:00PM, Point Park University Conservatory of Performing Arts (COPA) students will present ARTfully UPlifting, a new show developed and created for sensory-friendly audiences. 

Kiesha Lalama Named Managing And Artistic Director Of Pittsburgh Playhouse At Point Park University


​​​​​​​Point Park University Professor of dance Kiesha Lalama, M.F.A., has been appointed Managing and Artistic Director of the Pittsburgh Playhouse.

Go Inside Jimmy Awards Rehearsal With THE ART OF KINDNESS Podcast


Join host Robert Peterpaul at The Juilliard School in NYC as he speaks with Jimmy's founder and director Van Kaplan, choreographer Kiesha LaLama, President of The Broadway League Charlotte St. Martin, and high school nominees.

Dayton Arts Organization Hires Interim Executive Director


The Board of Directors for Dayton Contemporary Dance Company (DCDC) has hired an Interim Executive Director.  DCDC welcomes (back) Phyllis Brzozoska for this position.

Nicholas Barrón and Kendall Becerra Win Top Prizes at the 2022 Jimmy Awards


The 2022 Jimmy® Award for Best Performance by an Actor was presented to Nicholas Barrón representing Las Casas Foundation's Joci Awards. The 2022 Jimmy® Award for Best Performance by an Actress was presented to Kendall Becerra representing The Broadway San Diego Awards.

Point Park University Invites Would-Be Zombies To Dance In Market Square


Taking its inspiration from Michael Jackson's iconic Thriller video, Point Park University will host the first-ever “Thrillerama,” a Halloween-themed dance fundraising event on Friday, October 29 from 6 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. in Market Square in Downtown Pittsburgh.

Wake Up With BWW 7/12: Nick Jonas Begins JERSEY BOYS Tech, Meet the Jimmy Award Nominees, and More!


Today's top stories: watch Nick Jonas' video from the first Jersey Boys tech rehearsal, meet the Jimmy Award nominees and more!

VIDEO: Van Kaplan & Kiesha Lalama Give a Sneak Peek of the Jimmy Awards on Backstage LIVE with Richard Ridge- Watch Now!


Watch below as Richard chats with two of the masterminds behind Broadway's biggest night... the the Jimmy Awards! Director Van Kaplan and choreographer Kiesha Lalama check in ahead of the broadcast, which airs on Thursday, July 15 (7:30PM).

Catching Up with the Jimmy Awards Alumni- Part 5


Before we get to know this year's Jimmy Awards nominees, BroadwayWorld is catching up with some of the program's alumni! Below, get to know just a few, including: Travis Anderson, Anna Ascheman, Laurel Bollard, Anna Gassett, Matt Gurniak, Lauren Harkness, J.R. Heckman, Morgan Higgins Pereira, Bethany Menjivar, Shauni Ruetz, and Jeremy VandenHout.

VIDEO: Jeremy Kushnier Joins PATHWAYS TO PERFORM


On episode 5 of Pathways to Perform, Jeremy Kushnier shares stories about his journey on a bus ride from Canada to landing a leading role in his Broadway debut and talks about the benefits of approaching industry rejection to play in your favor because “You Have to Find a Way to Win.”

Pittsburgh CLO Announces Institute Of Performing Arts


For 75 years, the Pittsburgh CLO has been in the forefront of developing world-class musical theater. For the past three decades, it has also been an industry leader in creating innovative arts education programs.

Meet The Cast & Creative Team Of UNTITLED


Casting has been announced for Pittsburgh CLO's World Premiere of the award-winning musical comedy UNTITLED: A New Musical Comedy About Serious Drama at the Greer Cabaret Theater April 3 - May 3, 2020. Originally developed during Pittsburgh CLO's SPARK Festival, UNTITLED has since gained wide acclaim, including earning writer Matt Schatz the ASCAP Foundation Harold Arlen Award. Don't miss this edgy new musical satire about showbiz, stardom and self-reflection.

Photo Coverage: On the Red Carpet at the 2019 Jimmy Awards!


Last night, The Jimmy Awards held their 11th annual ceremony at Broadway's Minskoff Theatre. The top awards went to Ethan Kelso and Ekele Ukegbu, for Best Performance by an Actor, and Actress, respectively. Kelso took home the prize for his performance as Will Bloom in Big Fish at Salt Lake School for the Performing Arts in Logan, Utah, while Ukegbu won for her performances as the title role of Aida at Elmont Memorial Junior-Senior High School in New York City.

JIMMYS BLOG: Samuel Aubuchon- Pure Broadway Glory


Earlier this year, he won the title of Best Leading Actor in a Musical for his portrayal of Terry Connor in Blue Springs High School's Side Show. Read Samuel's second entry below and be sure to check out his first and second too!

JIMMYS BLOG: Samuel Aubuchon- Arriving in NYC!


BroadwayWorld is bringing you the inside scoop on this year's Jimmy Awards with student blogger Samuel Aubuchon- a nominee from Kansas City Starlight Theatre's Blue Star Awards. Earlier this year, he won the title of Best Leading Actor in a Musical for his portrayal of Terry Connor in Blue Springs High School's Side Show. Read Samuel's second entry below and click here if you missed his first!

Pittsburgh Playhouse Announces 2019 - 2020 Season


 Point Park University's award-winning Pittsburgh Playhouse is pleased to announce its 2019 - 2020 season which features a compelling lineup of new and classic works, including the Tony Award-winning musical Parade directed by Tony Award-winning alumnus Rob Ashford, the world premiere musical Pump Up the Volume, and the Off-Broadway hit, Good Grief. The season runs from Oct. 10, 2019 - May 7, 2020.

Cast and Creative Set for Pittsburgh CLO's BEYOND THE MOON


Pittsburgh CLO announces the cast and creative team of our new Gallery of Heroes production, BEYOND THE MOON,  touring now - May 2019. 

Photo Flash: Students Shine Onstage at the 10th Annual Jimmy Awards!


The 2018 Jimmy Awards took place on Monday, June 25, 2018 at 7:30pm at the Minskoff Theatre on Broadway. Laura Benanti hosted. The coveted Jimmy Awards for Best Performance by an Actress and Best Performance by an Actor were presented to Renee Rapp, The Blumey Awards (Charlotte, NC) and Andrew Barth Feldman, The Roger Rees Awards for Excellence in Student Performance (New York, NY).

Renee Rapp and Andrew Barth Feldman Win Big at the Jimmy Awards!


The 2018 Jimmy® Awards took place on Monday, June 25, 2018 at 7:30pm at the Minskoff Theatre on Broadway. Laura Benanti hosted.

Photo Coverage: The Best of High School Theatre Shines at the 2017 Jimmy Awards!


Start spreadin' the news! The ninth annual Jimmy Award winners were announced yesterday at the Minskoff Theatre. This year's finalists included: Sam Primack, Nathan Keffer, Antonio Cipriano, Jasmine Rogers, Hatty King, Maggie Gidden and winners Sofia Deler and Tony Moreno. BroadwayWorld was on the red carpet for the big night and you can check out photos below!

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