About LWDA
What makes us different
At LWDA, we simultaneously provide educational equity and academic learning and support, while engaging students in a high-quality arts outlet that also brings nutritional value, physical and emotional well-being into reach. LWDA is a leader in Performing Arts Curriculum and Arts Education delivery. We specialize in a one-of-a-kind
approach in combining an Academic Subject with every style of Dance that we teach. Versed in over 7 different Dance Disciplines, our programming prepares students for the professional world of Dance, while fortifying each participant with an arsenal of: history, professional etiquette, career competency, nutrition education, improved fitness, state content standards of Reading Comprehension, Performing Arts and Physical Education, improved memorization and literacy, well developed Artistry, and more; through our unique brand of cross-disciplinary applications of Dance and Academics.
Contact Us
Our Lead Dance Instructor
Leah D. Willis, MBA
Leah Danyelle Willis was born in Van Nuys, California but grew up in Portland, Oregon. She began dancing at
the age of five, and completed 10 years of dance training at Hollywood Dance and Fitness. She earned her
High School Diploma from Woodrow Wilson High School, as well as distinguished recognition from the
Oregon Alliance of Black School Educators for academic achievement and citizenship, in working to improve
the climate of her school and community. During her Sophomore year, she was selected for the musical
Brigadoon, ushering in her experience in Musical Theater.
She attended Jefferson High School half time
during her Junior and Senior years as a member of their professional dance company called The Jefferson
Dancers; led by Artistic Director Steve Gonzalez, formerly a member of Moses Pendleton’s New York
Company, MOMIX. The Jefferson Dancers performed at such venues as: The Millennium Stage at the Kennedy
Center in Washington D.C., The Hult Performing Arts Center in Eugene Oregon, The Newport Performing Arts
Center in Newport Oregon, and the beautiful P.C.P.A. (Portland Center for the Performing Arts) in Downtown
Portland, Oregon. The company gave lecture demonstrations to Portland Public Schools within the city when
they weren’t on tour. Ms. Willis attained her Associate’s Degree in Liberal Arts/Dance Concentration with
Honors in 2004 from Santa Monica College. As a student at SMC from 2002-2004, Leah studied Modern,
Ballet, West African, and Salsa and performed in SMC’s contemporary dance ensemble Synapse Dance
Theater. She also presided over a student-run organization called The International Dance Club. In Addition,
she was personally selected by world renowned West African Dance Master, Nzingha Camara, to join her
company: Ballet Kouman Kele, of which she is still intermittently a member. Ms. Willis earned her Bachelor’s
Degree in Dance from California State University, Long Beach, in 2007. As a student, her original
choreography and musical compositions were selected for the 2006 and 2007 Undergraduate Contemporary
Dance Concerts. She earned her Master’s Degree in Business Administration from the University of Phoenix in
2010.
In the summer of 2010, Leah performed for R Dance Company, led by renowned choreographer and
associate faculty member in the Dance Department of Santa Monica College, Roberta Wolin-Tupas. She was
noted as giving “compelling performances in the modern dance works Rising Above and Just Do It.” While
studying business, Ms. Willis founded a nonprofit organization in 2009 called Leah Willis Dance Arts.
Presently The organization places Dance curriculum, nutrition education and career programs into under
served schools and facilities. LWDA has worked with: the Long Beach Unified School District, in Long Beach,
CA, Boys and Girls Clubs of Southern Nevada and St. Louis, Missouri, St. Louis Public Schools and We Rock The
Spectrum Kids Gym Corp. Dancers experience guest artist workshops, service learning projects to improve
their communities, perform throughout the city, take educational field trips and learn dance technique and
discipline in 7 different disciplines of Dance. Ms. Willis has an eclectic mix of professional and performance
experience and is very eager to share this passionate journey for many years to come.
Our Mission
Fulfilling Our Mission
Our work and passion is to mend, repair and eliminate the disparities that exist in the low-income communities, and low-ranking public and charter schools. We seek to destroy the barriers that prohibit access to top-quality Arts Education Programs, as well as academic support that allows for the successful acquisition of learning standards and grade-level proficiency. Schools in low-income zip codes are scoring far below average, to just average
regarding college and career readiness. Underserved students are falling far behind and there are huge achievement gaps. Many of these schools score …….
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Our work and passion is to mend, repair and eliminate the disparities that exist in the low-income communities, and low-ranking public and charter schools. We seek to destroy the barriers that prohibit access to top-quality Arts Education Programs, as well as academic support that allows for the successful acquisition of learning standards and grade-level
proficiency. Schools in low-income zip codes are scoring far below average, to just average regarding college and career readiness. Underserved students are falling far behind and there
are huge achievement gaps. Many of these schools score a 2 on equity. Students are making
less progress from one grade to the next, and falling into a rut of low test scores and overall
academic preparedness, compared to other schools in more affluent or higher median income
communities. Our programs heal these inequalities.
Homeschooling families in these neighborhoods also deserve first class outlets for their
students to receive creative expression, physical activities, artistic and entrepreneurial
opportunities, academic enhancement and social interaction programs. Many Homeschooling
parents have limited options for lifelong programs that suit the needs of the individual
learning styles of their students, and need programs that operate outside of traditional school
hours for their needs.
We are prepared to be a premium resource for integral nutrition education, by giving
exceptional, nutrient dense meals to our students, and equipping them with Ingredient
Literacy and Caloric Balance tools that will sustain them for a lifetime of educated, balanced,
clean, and exponential health and wellness.
Applying Our Mission
We accomplish our Mission through our unique brand of LWDA Innovative Arts Education© Curriculum, which, over the past 15 years, has gained acclaim across three different States in the U.S., for its effective and top-notch delivery of Cross-Disciplinary Applications of Dance and Academics. We engage in positive collaborative business and School District Partnerships, connect through Guest Artist Workshops, Performance Presentations, Service Learning Projects, and our vigorous Rules Of Healthy Practice© Nutrition Education Program.
Our work and passion is to mend, repair and eliminate the disparities that exist in the low-income communities, and low-ranking public and charter schools. We seek to destroy the barriers that prohibit access to top-quality Arts Education Programs, as well as academic support that allows for the successful acquisition of learning standards and grade-level
proficiency. Schools in low-income zip codes are scoring far below average, to just average regarding college and career readiness. Underserved students are falling far behind and there
are huge achievement gaps. Many of these schools score a 2 on equity. Students are making
less progress from one grade to the next, and falling into a rut of low test scores and overall
academic preparedness, compared to other schools in more affluent or higher median income
communities. Our programs heal these inequalities.
Homeschooling families in these neighborhoods also deserve first class outlets for their
students to receive creative expression, physical activities, artistic and entrepreneurial
opportunities, academic enhancement and social interaction programs. Many Homeschooling
parents have limited options for lifelong programs that suit the needs of the individual
learning styles of their students, and need programs that operate outside of traditional school
hours for their needs.
We are prepared to be a premium resource for integral nutrition education, by giving
exceptional, nutrient dense meals to our students, and equipping them with Ingredient
Literacy and Caloric Balance tools that will sustain them for a lifetime of educated, balanced,
clean, and exponential health and wellness.
We accomplish our Mission through our unique brand of LWDA Innovative Arts Education© Curriculum, which, over the past 15 years, has gained acclaim across three different States in the U.S., for its effective and top-notch delivery of Cross-Disciplinary Applications of Dance and Academics. We engage in positive collaborative business and School District Partnerships, connect through Guest Artist Workshops, Performance Presentations, Service Learning Projects, and our vigorous Rules Of Healthy Practice© Nutrition Education Program.