Alia Swersky
Adjunct Instructor
Creative Foundations, Composition/Improvisation
Alia Swersky is a movement artist, performer and teacher, engaged deeply in the vital act of dance improvisation. She graduated from Cornish College of the Arts in1998 with a BFA in dance and now teaches at Cornish as an adjunct faculty member since 2005. Committed to training and engaging youth populations as well as college students, she founded The University Preparatory High School dance program, teaching a variety of dance styles, curating a series of guest teaching artists, and choreographing work for middle and high school students. Committed equally to the local professional dance community, Swersky has taught at Velocity’s Strictly Seattle Festival and the Seattle Festival of Dance Improvisation (SFDI). She is a long time Co-artistic director of Dance Art Group (DAG), a non-profit organization that promotes the practice and appreciation of dance and somatic education in the Seattle area. DAG produces the annual Seattle Festival Dance Improvisation and other events that support innovative research and education in dance/movement. Swersky has taught yoga for over 10 years, on-going at a number of studios, and invites this influence into her dance work and teaching. Other influences include contact improvisation, release/somatic techniques, Aikido, Buddhist meditation, & many pivotal dance partners and teachers. Since 1998, she danced and toured nationally and internationally as a member of the LeGendre Performance Group. Swersky continues to work in artistic collaboration with Amii LeGendre in teaching and in creating work together. Swersky has collaborated and performed in the works of many Seattle artists some of which include The Maureen Whiting Company, Khambatta Dance Company, Jurg Koch, and she is currently dancing with KT Niehoff of Lingo Dance and with Salt Horse. Alia’s improvisational and choreographic works have been presented at 12 Minutes Max, Choreofest, SFDI, as a part of Crispin Spaeth’s MIXER2, Velocity’s NEXT Festival NW, Cornish College of the Arts BFA shows and the Northwest New Works Festival.
