SATURDAY SPOTLIGHT WILL HIGHLIGHT A SINGER-ARTIST IN THE STUDIO. SOME OF THESE SINGER-ARTISTS MIGHT BE FAMILIAR TO YOU, AND SOME MAY NOT. NO MATTER WHAT, EACH SINGER-ARTIST IS SOMEONE THAT YOU SHOULD GET TO KNOW!

It is an honor and a privilege for me to work with each of these singer-artists and introduce them to you!

This week’s spotlight shines on Lisa La Touche.

Lisa is an artist from the tips of her taps to top of her head. We connected through breath and vibration, and realized we knew how to breathe the air from NYC back to our native western Canada!

Lisa is a warrior. She lives her life and raises her child with the same intensity, grace, humor and focus that she creates her craft. She lives her artistic integrity. She pivots. She creates. She takes the essentials and builds a castle. This is Lisa: fully anchored, fully life-filled, fully aspiring for more. Get to know her. She is magical.

LISA LA TOUCHE

I am a Canadian hailing now from Calgary, Alberta. A former Chicago (Chi-Town!) resident that eventually went on to be a New Yorker for over 12 years. Somewhere in all of that, I was given my biggest gift, the honor that it is to now also be called a Mom. I currently continue to pivot in and out of the house as an artist and educator white managing a three year old's big feelings amongst all things LIFE in 2022

Thank GOD I met Queen Susan... cause she taught me how to BREATHE!!!!

That all being said..

I am also a Tap Dancer.  To practice this art form, know its people, and be one of many representatives of such a rich and resilient legacy, is a high honor.  It is the lens that I look through in all my artistic endeavors.  Adding to this, as a Black woman, cultural context and meaning making are held up at the highest integral value as I continue to research, express, educate, share and simply ENJOY the journey of LIFE as it is a process.  My heart beats as my passion pushes me towards greater purposes all stemming from the simplicity of curiosity.  I want to hear stories, dig into crates, sharpen my skills and circle up and just dance until infinity.  Therefore, as a performing artist and fellow creative, I delight in connecting and engaging with humanity through rhythm, storytelling and community development initiatives leading us towards us all as We: The People.  

While I have been blessed with a successful career and considered a leader, I believe I am here to simply serve and do my part in the great works that must get done.   To me, Freedom is the fearlessness of expression, existence and knowledge of which we all deserve.   

MOVERS & SHAKERS Podcast interview from Jan 2022

https://themovingarchitects.org/movers-shapers-lisa-la-touche/

As a proud Canadian and former New Yorker, Lisa’s credits are world renowned. She was an original cast member in Broadway’s Shuffle Along, choreographed by Savion Glover and Directed by George C. Wolfe, where she received both the Fred Astaire Award and the Actor’s Equity Award for Outstanding Broadway Chorus. Her TV credits include the 70th Annual Tony Awards and Amazon’s Original “Z, The beginning of everything”. Previous highlights have also included touring with the Savion Glover production, Stepz, and also performing with both New York's Off-Broadway and the North American touring casts of STOMP. Since 2010 she has run her own performance company Tap Phonics and has been commissioned to present for organizations such as The Brooklyn Museum, 92Y, Gibney Dance and Fall For Dance North. As an educator and Professor she has taught for PACE University, NYU, The School of Jacob’s Pillow, University of Calgary, Decidedly Jazz Danceworks, Rosie’s Theater Kids and member of the creative council for the American Tap Dance Foundation. Her recent endeavor includes co-curating the Tap Dance Legacy Series along with Travis Knights in partnership with Dance Immersion providing the local black community free access to their cultural history. She also has written and directed her debut film TRAX encompassing her journey back to Alberta while discovering important local black history. Above all, her proudest achievement greatest inspiration, is the gift of being a mom. For further info please visit www.lisalatouche.com