Leah Cox

Leah Cox loves using dance to discover new ideas, orient in the world and connect to others. Cox is a dancer/collaborator in Liz Lerman’s latest piece, Wicked Bodies, and a frequent adjudicator for the American College Dance Association. She is the creator of the Failure Collective, an interdisciplinary, intergenerational workshop that explores the creative possibilities that arise when we embrace failure and work in unfamiliar contexts. Her current creative projects include Group Therapy, an evening-length solo made in collaboration with George Staib, artistic director of staibdance. Cox was Dean of the American Dance Festival from 2015-2022 and served on the New York Dance and Performance “Bessie" Award Committee from 2015-2018. She worked with the Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Company for 14 years, first as a company dancer and subsequently as the Company’s first education director. Her teaching was featured in the documentary about Bill T. Jones, entitled A Good Man, which aired on PBS nationwide. Dance Teacher Magazine celebrated Cox with a feature story in May 2016. 

What do you enjoy most about being a part of the UT Theatre and Dance community?

Collaborating with and learning from my colleagues and students. The people in the department inspire me and offer the kind of support that makes being here a joy.

What is your favorite thing about Austin?

Tacos, great running trails and plentiful public parks. Lastly, widespread use of "y'all." Northeasterners just don't get why this contraction is so useful!

Headshot taken by Jim Lafferty.