Luminous, empowering, authentic. With deep sensitivity and creativity, Leah guided us towards a place of aliveness, sensation, and connection... to our bodies, to each other, to a dance lineage and the possibilities it holds for resistance and joy.

— KELLY SOMMERFELD, PRIVATE LESSON STUDENT, ARCHITECT

Thank you again for what was genuinely one of the most amazing "in touch with my own body" and "out of body experience" at the same time experiences. I have gone to many teachers and dancer people, but no one has connected with me, and spoke directly to my inside brain the way you did. You are genuinely incredible at your craft, and I am deeply thankful for both you and that experience.

— HYDRA CLAY, STUDENT
PHOTO — LIGHT EX MACHINA (TEACHING IN PARIS, 2013)
VIDEO — LEAH VENDL & TITO CHAVEZ-NGUYEN IN A FILM BY TAYLOR FELDMAN | CHICAGO, APRIL 2018: 'IT AIN'T EASY' BY MUDDY MAGNOLIAS

Leah (she/they) is an improviser and dance adventurer who has been dancing since she had someone to dance with. She fell in love with social dancing in the late 2000's dancing to salsa, tango, swing, and blues music. Her movement story is enriched early on by gymnastics and acrobatics, later on by contemporary dance and solo improvisation practices, and most recently by street and club styles, especially waacking/whacking. She works, plays, and dreams with her dance families to develop a role-fluid, consent-focused, social justice-informed dance practice.

She believes social dance can fundamentally change our relationship to touch, to music, and to each other. As an instructor, whether in one-on-one or in group settings, she specializes in classes that are all-levels and exploratory. Whether a workshop or a drop-in class, you can expect focus on connection, communication, consent, and ample support for dancers to draw out their unique connection to their body and to the music.

Leah is a perpetual student of the many dance forms that make their way into her body, of their social and cultural contexts, and seeks to honor these lineages with her learning and how she designs her material life.


Leah brings a brilliant balance of instruction, vulnerability, and practice to her teaching. She draws on her lived experience to enhance the lesson and move us towards more authentic and embodied interactions.

The most meaningful piece that Leah regularly tends to is caring for and advocating for ourselves while dancing. I feel at home when learning from her.

— EMily Warren, PRIVATE LESSONSTUDENT, educator & facilitator OF over 20 years

Leah put me at ease while building confidence in my own abilities. She's a beautiful dancer and a compassionate teacher.

— GAYLE PODRABSKY, PRIVATE LESSON STUDENT
Photo: ZACH MURPHY (2018)