You Live In My Spine
This evening length work premiered at G-Son Studios in January of 2023 and is available for commission. Please see more information here.
Bittersweet
Created in partnership with the National Domestic Violence Hotline, “Bittersweet” was originally performed at the Hotline’s 25th Anniversary Gala in Washington D.C. and later adapted into a dance film. It was also presented by the LA County Performing Arts Division at its inaugural “Empowerment” Festival.
Choreographer: Leah Zeiger
Co-Directors: Alexandra Velasco + Leah Zeiger
Dancers: Sierra Henry, Amanda Sun, Amina Yufanyi
Producer: Leah Zeiger
Musical composition: Max Berlin
Created in partnership with the National Domestic Violence Hotline
Choreography: Leah Zeiger
Dancers: Sierra Henry and Nicole Flores
Camera: Malachi Middleton
Editing: Danielle King
Music: “Stardust” by Nat King Cole, “Condolence” by Benjamin Clementine
Bitter/Sweet
July 2022
This duet was created as part of LA Contemporary Dance Company’s Choreography Lab. “Bitter/Sweet” explores the intangible pain and excitement when our lives reach towards opposite ends of experience - the most bitter, and the most sweet - at the exact same time.
My Body Remembers
March 2021
Using original poetry and snippets of recordings from interviews of old friends, this is a short creation using the Body Memory Method.
Original poetry: Leah Zeiger
Movement, filming, editing: Leah Zeiger
Music: "RABi" by Bon Iver
Movement, filming, editing: Leah Zeiger
Amalgamation
December 2020
"Amalgamation" is a visual documentation exploring how to mourn and move at the same time. The film uses the process of "found footage" as source material, and considers how we make meaning and tell stories through our bodies.
Sentimental Reasons
June 2020
A love letter to my Body -
A Body that works. A Body that moves. A Body that is mine.
A love letter to the Earth -
An Earth that works. An Earth that moves. An Earth that is ours.
Movement and editing: Leah Zeiger
Camera: David Zeiger
Music: "Sentimental Reasons" Nat King Cole
Choreography: Leah Zeiger
Performers: Amanda Boike, Anna Rodimesteva, Leah Zeiger
Camera: Lucinda Harstrick
Editing: Alexandra Velasco
Music: “You’ve Really Got A Hold On Me” La Santa Cecilia, EN VIVO; “Trust In Me” Etta James; “This Bitter Earth” Dinah Washington
Festivals: Watson Dance Choreo Fest 2020
Once It All Ends
May/June 2019
This short dance film is the result of a year-long movement inquiry into the question "How do survivors move?" and features footage from the evening length production at the Awakenings Art Gallery in Chicago, IL. Leah served as choreographer-in-residence at both Awakenings and Volta Performing Arts during the creation of this piece.
This piece was created with inspiration from weekly survivor movement workshops, led by Leah at both the Awakenings Art Gallery and Volta Performing Arts.
This project was also a collaboration with The Sunflower Project, an initiative to use dance and other forms of art to educate young people on abusive relationships and to help heal survivors. More information at www.towardsthesun.org
The Promise of Trees
March 2020
I can stand near a tree in Afghanistan
And the tree and I will share the Earth
I can stand near a tree in Russia
And the tree and I will share the Earth
I can stand near a tree in Venezuela
And the tree and I will share the Earth
And the tree and I will share the Earth
because the tree and I are one
Because the tree and I are 7 billion
We will share the Earth
Choreography and performance: Leah Zeiger
Camera: David Zeiger
Editing: Leah Zeiger
Music: “Spring / The Promise” Anna Yarbrough
Choreography and performance: Leah Zeiger
Sound Composition: Sean ellis Hussey
Poem: Leah Zeiger
Video: Nathan Ashley
Que Sera Sera
May 2019
“You know what happened
But you don’t know me anymore
It’s not all your fault
And it’s not all mine
We fell victim to time.”
Performed at Awakening’s Songs of Survival
Across the Blue
February 2019
Leah Zeiger choreographed this music video for singer/songwriter Leah Jean through a collaborative and intimate process between Zeiger, Jean, and the other dancers.
Directed by: Leah Jean and Olivia Aquilina
Choreographed by: Leah Zeiger
Dancers: Leah Jean, Signe Engstrand, Esty Han, Charis Stanek, Leah Zeiger
Music: “Across The Blue” by Leah Jean
Camera and editing: Jared Leighton
Choreography: Leah Zeiger
Dancers: Amanda Boike, Anna Rodimsteva, Leah Zeiger
Music: "Silicon Valley" Anderson .Paak
Zilicon Valley
March 2019
In collaboration with filmmaker Jared Leighton, this piece was created in order to expose and claim sexuality in the bodies of women, who are generally taught to hide or suppress their own sexuality.
Relatively in Touch
April 2017
This choreography was selected by Columbia College Chicago to be featured in that semester’s Student Performance Night, with the mentorship from choreographer and Dean of the dance department Peter Carpenter.
This piece explores the dueling concepts of whether or not art about abuse is increasing awareness or is inadvertently glorifying trauma.
Choreography and Performance: Leah Zeiger
Music: “You've Really Got a Hold On Me” Smokey Robinson & the Miracles
Lighting: Here Perkowitz
Text, choreography, performance: Leah Zeiger
Original composition: Cassandra Kaczor
Prescribed Burn
October 2016
To prescribe a controlled burn is to purposefully front damage in order to mitigate a possible forest fire. For survivors, it can feel like a prescribed burn to ask for help, as they are often met with hostility and blame instead of compassion. But still, one must ask for help, and metaphorically control the burn, because no one can survive this alone.
Performed at Awakening’s Songs of Survival
Date Night
2016
Impromptu, natural, playful, honest, unexpected, and joyful. These are all aspects of strong relationships, and points of inspiration for this dance film.
Choreographic direction: Leah Zeiger
Performers: Charlie Curtis-Beard and Leah Zeiger
Camera and editing: Leah Zeiger
Music: "Hip Hop Jazz Instrumental" Twisted Rootz
Choreography and Performance: Leah Zeiger
Music: “Michicant”, Bon Iver
Videography: David Zeiger, May Rigler
Unnamed
May 2013
From the ashes of an abusive relationship, this solo portrays the devastating and shattering splitting of body and soul that results from trauma of that degree. While this piece was choreographed during her high school years, Leah Zeiger still performs it as it is still extremely relevant and raw.