Lisa Gelley is a performer, teacher, choreographer, and mother, living and working on the traditional, ancestral, unceded territory of the Coast Salish Peoples, including the territories of the xʷməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), and Səl̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations. She received her training in classical, contemporary, and urban dance forms in Canada and Europe. In 2007-8, she trained and performed as a guest interpreter at Le Groupe Dance Lab in Ottawa under the direction of Peter Boneham. She has traveled to Tel Aviv, Israel where she carried out two intensive periods of study in Gaga and Batsheva Dance Company repertoire with Ohad Naharin. Lisa’s main focus is now co-directing Company 605, creating original works through collaborative processes with artists in dance and other disciplines. Lisa has performed in works by choreographers including Dana Gingras, Justine A. Chambers, Amber Funk Barton, Vanessa Goodman, Martha Carter, and was a member of Aeriosa (Julia Taffe) for six years, broadening her practice to include vertical contemporary dance in rock climbing systems on urban building walls and mountains. In addition to her work as a performer/choreographer, Lisa values opportunities to connect with young dancers and emerging professionals through contemporary dance education in Vancouver. Lisa is the recipient of the 2015 Vancouver International Dance Festival Choreographic Award.

Photo by David Cooper.