Lee Harris (dancer)

Lee Harris (dancer)
Name	Lee Harris
Occupation	Dancer, choreographer
Known for	Contemporary dance, interdisciplinary collaborations

Lee Harris (dancer) is an American contemporary dancer and choreographer recognized for his athletic movement style and innovative collaborative projects. His career spans performances with major New York City-based companies and the creation of works presented at prestigious venues like The Joyce Theater and Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival. Harris is also noted for his interdisciplinary approach, frequently working with composers, visual artists, and filmmakers to expand the boundaries of dance theater.

Early life and training

Lee Harris began his formal dance training at a young age, studying at a regional ballet school in the Midwestern United States. He later pursued intensive studies in modern dance techniques, including Graham technique and Limon technique, at the University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre & Dance. His early influences included the choreographic works of Merce Cunningham and Twyla Tharp, which he encountered through performances by the American Ballet Theatre and the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. Following his undergraduate education, Harris moved to New York City to attend the Juilliard School, where he refined his craft under the mentorship of notable figures like Larry Rhodes.

Career

Harris began his professional career as a dancer with the Martha Graham Dance Company, performing principal roles in classic works such as Appalachian Spring. He subsequently joined the ensemble of Doug Varone and Dancers, where he became known for his dynamic physicality and nuanced interpretation of Varone's choreography. As a freelance artist, Harris has performed in projects for Pam Tanowitz Dance and appeared in works by Kyle Abraham presented at the Brooklyn Academy of Music. His performing career has taken him to international stages, including the Festival d'Avignon in France and the Sadler's Wells Theatre in London.

Choreography and artistic style

Harris's choreographic style is characterized by a fusion of rigorous ballet line with the weighted, grounded qualities of postmodern dance. He often employs complex, rhythmically driven phrasing and investigates themes of memory and human connection. His artistic process is highly collaborative, frequently involving improvisational tasks with dancers to generate movement material. Critics, such as those writing for The New York Times, have noted the "architectural intelligence" and emotional resonance in his structured yet fluid compositions. His work often intersects with contemporary music, featuring scores by composers like John Zorn and Caroline Shaw.

Notable works and collaborations

A significant early choreographic work, Transit of Venus, was commissioned by the Dance Theater Workshop and featured an original score by Nico Muhly. His evening-length piece The Principle of Moments, created in collaboration with video artist Bill Morrison, premiered at the Walker Art Center in Minneapolis. Harris has also created works for the Ailey/Fordham B.F.A. Program and set repertoire on the Dayton Contemporary Dance Company. A notable interdisciplinary collaboration was Field Theories with installation artist Ann Hamilton, presented at the Wexner Center for the Arts, which integrated live dance with kinetic sculpture.

Awards and recognition

Lee Harris has been the recipient of several prestigious fellowships and awards supporting his artistic work. These include a Guggenheim Fellowship for Creative Arts, a New York Dance and Performance Award (Bessie Award) for Outstanding Emerging Choreographer, and multiple grants from the National Endowment for the Arts. He was also named a United States Artists Fellow and has held artist residencies at institutions such as the Bates Dance Festival and the Maggie Allesee National Center for Choreography at Florida State University.

Personal life

Harris maintains a residence in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. He is an advocate for dance education and frequently conducts master classes and workshops at universities, including Princeton University and the University of California, Los Angeles. Outside of his dance career, he has expressed a deep interest in architecture and urban design, interests that often inform the spatial concepts in his choreographic work.

Category:American choreographers Category:American male dancers Category:21st-century American dancers