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Artist Statement
I am activated by the belief that my art is not a commodity, and that dance is intrinsically political. I thrive in movement because of its ephemeral nature and the impact I can make through an experience rather than a product. Dance is fleeting and non-reproducible; therefore, I work to surface sensations and emotions by creating an urgency that must be attended to. I seek to leave the audience with a vivid, long-lasting memory of what they witnessed. I utilize movement, monologue, projection, and soundscape- therefore, expansive attention, presence, and sensitivity are required, both my own and the viewers. I desire to bring myself and my audience closer to our shared humanity by drawing attention to themes such as the impacts of capitalism, climate change, or unjust social hierarchies that aren’t isolated to me. I seek to activate curiosity and sensitivity to both political and psychological states of consciousness through performance.
Biography
Piper Leistiko is a dance artist, working as a choreographer, performer, and producer. She was born and raised in Missoula, Montana. She studied dance and political science for two years at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles before transferring to the BFA Dance Lab at Bennington College in Vermont. While at Loyola Marymount she was mentored by director and chair Rosalynde Leblanc and performed in a restaging of “Strict Love” by Doug Varone. At Bennington College, she has been dancing under the direction of Donna Faye Burchfield while performing in works by Mark Caserta, Kayla Farrish, Jesse Zaritt, Shayla Vie-Jenkins, Sidra Bell, and Paul Matteson. Piper’s choreographic work is concerned with how dance can provide a platform and community for those who seek to understand how dance can be an actionable protest and an anti-capitalist endeavor. Piper performed with Ballet Beyond Borders (BBB) from 2016-2022, touring in Italy, Cuba, Portugal, and Dubai. BBB works to move ideas of dance and global diplomacy in and around different political contexts. With BBB, she performed several self-choreographed solos that explored her connections to femininity, sexuality, and systems of oppression. Additionally, Piper co-founded Birds Eye Bash (BEB) with Aviana Goodman-Fish. BEB is an annual volunteer-based arts show that creates community and raises funds for organizations working for social justice. In the summer of 2025, BEB was able to support the work of Make the Road New York and the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights.
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