Lizz Roman, Artistic Director of LIZZ ROMAN & DANCERS has been a dancer and choreographer in San Francisco since 1984. “The dance is the sum of the journey we take through a site,” states Roman. In the words of LeCorbusier “ to create architecture is to put in order. Put what in order? Function and objects.” “I seek guidance from each building I collaborate with,” continues Roman, “I create a visual history of our physical journey through that space that becomes a dance. It is driven mainly by the architecture of the space.”
Roman’s recent site specific works "THIS DANCE THIS PLACE" (2010),“AT PLAY” (2009) and “BLUE FLOOR REFLECTIONS” (2006) all played to sold out audiences and were described by critics as ”Eloquent,” Breathtaking,” “Provocative,” and “Captivating. “ “Artaud became what felt like an underwater playground…” and for “BLUE FLOOR REFLECTIONS” “One can be grateful that Roman arrives at the task without agendas, simply to fashion eloquent steps within an unconventional setting.” The SF Butoh Festival and Yerba Buena Gardens Festival in 2004 commissioned Roman to create a site specific dance which following its premiere was remounted for the 2005-6 season. The company was nominated in 2005, for an Isadora Duncan Award for company performance for “CELLGROUND.” Roman received the SF WEEKLY Black Box Award for Cross Genre Performance in 1998. Roman and her company are known for their trademark expansive works where dances spring, roll and fly through buildings and off of large scenic elements resulting in a nomination for a best company performance IZZIE award. The company has developed innovative site specific techniques to work in unique and commonplace locations with a variety of multi-media collaborators and scenic elements. The site specific collaboration “IN HER DREAMS” (1998) with local filmmaker Kevin Cunningham was commissioned by ODC Theater and resulted, in the company’s award for Cross Genre Performance. Her dances have been seen at Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, Theater Artaud, ODC Theater and Commons Rooftop, Dance Mission Theater, CellSpace, DanzHaus, Dancers’ Group, Brady St. Theater, and Counterpulse in SF. Additional teaching credits include, LNES Ballet Center, Shawl Anderson Dance Center, The School of the Arts in SF, Berkeley High and Rhythm and Motion Dance Center. Roman is also a member of Divisadero Research Company, an improvisational dance group founded by contact improv maverick Nita Little. Roman also teaches modern dance as well as performance workshops in the Bay Area. At ODC Dance Commons she is the choreographic mentor for their emerging artists program PILOT and currently teaches modern dance and contact improvisation. From 2006 to 2007, Roman taught modern dance at the University of California, Berkeley, from 1999 to 2003, Roman worked with large groups of dancers each year as a part of the Workshop Performance Series at Rhythm & Motion Dance Studio in SF. Before moving to SF in 1984, Roman lived in Chicago where she studied theater at the Goodman School of Drama. She attributes much of her choreographic style to her years as a student and performer of improvisational theater and dance in Chicago and St. Louis. Roman is also a certified Pilates instructor and currently is co-owner of PARKSIDE PILATES LLC in SF. Additional information is found at www.lizzromananddancers.com