About Lily

Lily Kind (they) is a dance-maker, performer, and writer presenting nationally and internationally. As a DIY organiser, they have been at the heart of grassroots dance scenes in the USA in Baltimore and Philadelphia, including as founder of Effervescent Collective (2008-2014), Associate Director of Urban Movement Arts (2017-202), co-founder of Ragtag Empire (2016-2023) and as director of their own critically-acclaimed ensemble dance theater works. Currently based in London, they are a Senior Lecturer (FHEA) at De Montfort University and a Guest Lecturer at London Contemporary Dance School, where they teach a range of practice and theory. Lily has also taught at Princeton University, Tulane University, Marymount Manhattan, and Ursinus College. Lily specialises in the methods of David Zambrano — Flying Low & Passing Though — having trained and taught these methods internationally for over a decade including as a participant in Zambrano’s 60 Days Project in 2019. Lily’s movement languages cohere around improvisation and collaboration, with roots in Vernacular Jazz dance (including Lindy Hop). Lily joined House of Suraj (London) as a Waacker in 2023 and has served as rehearsal assistant for Kumari Suraj. They have had the privilege to train closely in Black American dance styles with Ron Wood, The Hood Lockers, Vince Johnson, and Breai Mason-Campbell. They have also worked with Stephan Koplowitz, Raphael Xavier, Mark ‘Metal’ Wong, Chelsea & Magda, Baltimore Rock Opera Society, Bosley, Dan Deacon, Adam Stone and others. Lily has an MFA in Interdisciplinary Arts from Goddard College, and additional training from Headlong Dance Theater.

More info: www.lilykind.org