Ronya-Lee LaVaune Anderson

A leader who facilitates challenging, creative arts integrated growth initiatives; an artist who creates by any medium necessary, designing bold performance journeys; a scholar and educator presenting provocative research and educating to inspire. 

SCHOLARSHIPS AND AWARDS

  • Kennedy Center REACH Commission (2024)-$10k 

  • Pola Nirenska Award for Outstanding Achievement in Dance (2021)-$5k 

  • Kennedy Center REACH Commission (2021)-$10k 

  • Awarded Doctoral Fellowship from the University of Maryland at College Park
    School of Theater, Dance and Performance Studies (2020)-$200k 

  • Kennedy Center REACH Office Hours Commission (2020)- $10k 

  • Maryland Art Council’s Choreographer’s Showcase winner (2020, 2018, 2011)- $3k

  • NextLOOK Residency Recipient (2018)- $4k  

  • Awarded Teaching Fellowship from the University of Maryland at College Park
    School of Theater, Dance and Performance Studies (2017)- $132k  

  • Henderson State University Guest Artist Fellowship (2016)- $7k  

  • Recipient of a Bates Dance Festival Teaching Fellowship (2013) 

  • Nominated as Best Emerging Performer for the Metro DC Dance Awards (2008)

COMMISSIONS

  • National Endowment for the Arts- Residence Time (2023) $8K

  • Dance Place in Washington, DC- Light Sessions (2023) and Monumental Bodies (2020)

  • John F. Kennedy Center for the Arts- Monumental Bodies (2021) $5K

  • Henderson State University in Arkadelphia, AK- No Contradictions, No Lies (2016) 

  • Guest Choreographer for Joy of Motion Youth Dance Ensemble in Washington, DC (2016) 

  • Work Commissioned by Dance Ethos Company in Washington, DC (2015) 

  • Work Commissioned by Joy of Motion Youth Dance Ensemble in Washington, DC
    (2015) 

RESIDENCIES

  • Guest Artist Residency at University of Virginia (2024) $5K  

  • Artist in Residence at Dance Place in Washington, DC (2022-24) $12K

  • Aunt Karen’s Farm in Upstate New York (2020)

  • NextLOOK Residency with the Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center and Joes’s Movement Emporium in College Park, Md (2018) $4K

  • Lake Junaluska Movement Artist Residency in Lake Junaluska, NC (2017) 

  • Henderson State University Fall Residency in Arkadelphia, Arkansas (2016) 

  • Artist in Residence at The Duke Youth Academy in Durham, NC (2006-2013)

PUBLICATIONS 

  • “#Burberry and the Utility of Black Femininity” in Dance in Us Popular Culture Ed. By Jennifer Atkins p. 151-155, (2024) 

  • “Speech, Time and Sight: Reconfiguring Notions of Dances of the African Diaspora” Journal of Dance Education Volume 20 No.3 July-September 2020 “The Next Right Thing” Sojourner’s Magazine Volume 48 No. 7 July 2019 

  • United Church of Christ Journal on Liturgical Arts (2015-2016) 

  • Every Knee Shall Bow: A Literary Treasury for Advancement of the Arts in Worship
    (Basar Publishing House, 2013) 

PRESS

EDUCATION

  • University of Maryland (2022): Doctoral Fellow 

  • University of Maryland (2021): MFA in Dance 

  • Trinity University (2016): Special Education; Teaching Reading in Content Area Part I; Teaching Reading in Content Area Part II; Adolescent Psychology 

  • Bates Dance Festival Teaching Fellowship (2013): Ballet IV (Shana Mirk-Robles) Modern III (Alex Springer) Hip Hop (Jennifer Archibald) The Business of Dance (Kim Konikow) 

  • Duke Divinity School (2007): Master’s of Divinity 

  • University of Maryland (2003): Bachelor’s of English: Language & Literature; Bachelor’s of Dance: Performance & Choreography 

PROFESSIONAL DANCE COMPANY EXPERIENCE

• Marvin Gaye Project Company (2015 to 2018), National Tour- Rehearsal Director

• Rebollar Dance Co., (2013-2016) 


• Liz Lerman Dance Exchange (2011), National Tour

• Dakshina (2010), Regional Tour 


• Carla and Company (2011, 2010)
• Clancy Works (2009, 2008) 


• Chuck Davis African American Dance Ensemble (2004-2007), Regional Tour

PERFORMANCE EXPERIENCE  

  • Performed “Residence Time” at Alexandria Waterfront Park, Alexandria, VA (2023)

  • Performed excerpt from original piece, “Light Work” at Wa Na Wari, Seattle, WA (2023)

  • Performed evening length work, “The Light Sessions” at Dance Place, Washington, DC (2023)

  • Performed “Monumental Bodies” at Dance Place, Washington, DC (2020) 

  • Performed “Miss America” at Triskelion Arts WAXworks, NYC (2019) 

  • Performed “Miss America” in Progress at The Baltimore Lyric Opera House (2019) 

  • Performed in Erica Rebollar’s “Space Junk” at the Kennedy Center Millennium Stage, Washington, DC  (2016) 

  • Performed Deborah Riley’s “Shadows” at the Dance Place, Washington, DC (2016, 2017) 

  • Performed in Erica Rebollar’s “Sacred Profane” at the Dance Place, Washington, DC (2015) 

  • Featured Performer in Anna Soklova’s “Rooms” with Daniel Singh’s Company, Dakshina, Regional Tour (2010) 

CHOREOGRAPHY

  • Residence Time (Solo) Original Score with Live Percussion; 30’00- National Endowment for the Arts See Site Residency (2023), Link: https://vimeo.com/user55126286/anexerciseinrage?share=copy 

  • Light Sessions (Solo; Quintet )Original Score with Live Band; 90’00- Dance Place Presentation (2023), Excerpt: https://vimeo.com/user55126286/thelightsessions?share=copy#t=634 

  • An Exercise in Rage (Solo) Original Score with Live Percussion 06’00- Dance Place Artist Residency (2022), Link: https://vimeo.com/user55126286/anexerciseinrage?share=copy   

  • Boxing, Unicorns and Double Dutch (Quartet) Original score, “Prime 1: Feminine” by Julius Eastman, “Don’t Make Me Over” by Dionne Warwick and original text 45’00- Kennedy Center National Dance Day (2021), Link: https://vimeo.com/manage/videos/670016161/7d2c448653 

  • Light (Quartet) “Light” by Ronya-Lee and the Light Factory; 4’49- YouTube Music Video (2021), Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qqoqNbvLJxI 

  • Monumental Bodies (Solo; Duet; Film Collaboration with Carlos Funn) Original score, “I Feel Pretty” by Sarah Vaughn, “Ave Maria” sung by Leontyne Price; 75’00- Dance Place’s Social Distance Commission (2020), Excerpt: https:// vimeo.com/manage/videos/485276895/6b3171354a  

  • Black Madonna and Miss America (Quartet) Original Sound-score with samples from Beethovan’s “Moonlight Sonata,” Nina Simone’s “Just Like a Woman,” Kendrick Lamar’s “DNA,” and “Quando Me’n Vo” from La Boheme; 40’00- Kogod Theater at Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center (2019), Link: https://vimeo.com/user55126286/blackmadonna?ts=1251000&share=copy

  • Legacy: A Canon in Three Parts (Quintet) Original sound-score; 30’00 (2017-18) 

  • Canon (1 soloist and 4 choral dancers) Original sound-score; 12’43- Dance Theater at Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center (2017), Excerpt: https://vimeo.com/259278628/1650464e79?share=copy  

  • No Contradictions, No Lies (Ensemble-10 dancers) Original score, “The Star Spangled Banner” by Jimi Hendrix and “MLK” by U2; 12’00- Faulkner Performing Arts Center (2016) 

  • Stuck (Trio) “Motherless Child” by John Legend; Text written by choreographer and recited by dancers; 8’00- Choreographer’s Showcase at UMD Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center (2011); The Publick Playhouse in Cheverly, MD (2010); Project Dance DC (2010); THEARC in Washington, DC (2010) 

COSTUME DESIGN  

  • “The Light Sessions” at Dance Place (2023) 

  • “The Naked King” at Dance Place (2019) 

  • “Eye Soar” at the Capital Fringe Festival (2019) 

  • “Miss America in Progress” at various venues (2019) 

  • “Ritual” at Dance Place (2018) 

  • “Alternative Facts” at the Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center (2018) 

  • “Canon” at the Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center (2017); American College Dance
    Festival (2018) 

WORK HISTORY  

  • American University- Dance Faculty- Offers instruction in Embodied Knowledge: Jazz I-III, Contemporary II-III; Critical Inquiry: Histories of Dance, and American University CORE: Dancing Body in a Moving World; Designed and executed a new course titled Dance is Home cross-listed with African-American Studies; Leads recruitment efforts

  • Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center- Black Light Summit Education Coordinator- Worked collaboratively with team members and summit coordinator to envision and implement a mentor-mentee program responsive to the current socio-political moment; Designed methods for determining student and educator needs, then created programming initiatives that reflects those needs

  • University of Maryland School of Theatre, Dance & Performance Studies- Teaching Fellow- Instructor of record for Dance History (Fall), Intro to Modern Dance ( Fall), Afro Jazz (Spring), Ballet I/II (Spring), House Based Dance (Fall), Fundamentals of Jazz (Spring); Designed new courses for university dance programs: House Based Dance & Dancing While Black

  • Northwestern High School Visual and Performing Arts Academy- Educator- Developed a strategic plan for fostering open parent teacher communication and increased parent engagement in student progress; Provided students with culturally relevant, anti-racist, whole person dance education 

  • Center City Public Charter School- Director of Dance Education- Oversaw curriculum implementation for the six Center City campuses; Provided teacher training attached to specific goals for pedagogical growth and efficacy; Responsible for devising a unique and comprehensive Pre-K through 8th Grade dance education curriculum with a focus on integrating math, science, language arts and motor skills 

  • Dancing by the Power: Movement Matters- Director, Co-Founder- Devised the strategic direction for the organization in collaboration with the Co-Founder, the Board Members and in response to the communities served;Responsible for developing creative and sustainable avenues of funding; Developed community partnerships; Assumed responsibility for staff training, support and evaluation