Molly Levy
is a performer and dance educator who lives in Oakland, CA.
Molly is drawn to the heart and humanity of dance. She is curious about how movement uncovers truths we may otherwise never know and inspired most by untethered honesty. Molly has worked with choreographers and companies that create devised original work, immersive theater, site-specific dance, and full evening burlesque shows. Her collaborations as a performer include work with Sharp & Fine, Paufve Dance, Post:ballet, Katie Scherman + Artists, LED, The Equus Projects, Cantankerous Creatures, Seattle Opera, Cameo Lethem, Lily Verlaine, Verlaine & McCann Present, and LROD.
Molly has trained in classical and contemporary ballet, Horton, Limon, Graham-based modern, improvisation, Piso Movil floorwork, Continuum, Jack Cole style jazz dance, and more. She trained at Berkeley City Ballet and San Francisco School of the Arts before studying at The Ailey School & Fordham University, where she graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts Summa Cum Laude in Dance Performance and credits toward a Masters of Science in Childhood Education.
In addition to her work as a performer, Molly has worked with actors and theater directors as a movement director to explore how movement can be used as a second language on stage beyond scripted lines. She has worked to create fluid movement languages and character specific movement studies for adaptations of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Hamlet, to develop anthropomorphic character movement in devised site-specific theater, and to make a princess fly for an entire children’s musical.
As a dance educator, Molly believes first and foremost that movement can empower everyone. Molly has danced with students as young as 18 months old as well as children, teenagers, adults of all levels, and dancers well into elderhood. She approaches movement with a keen eye for anatomical alignment, functional progressions, musicality, and individual expression. Whether she is teaching ballet, contemporary, or floorwork, Molly often begins her classes with a body-centered grounding meditation and encourages her students to build a safe, supportive, and fun learning environment both with each other and in themselves.
In addition to dance, Molly is currently studying to be a Certified Breema Bodwork Practitioner.
Recent work Samples
Official Music Video: Rest Your Head (One for Natalie)
Film Credits: Nino Fernandez - Cinematography, Direction, Editing; Kevin Pennick - Lighting and Sound Assistant; Molly Levy - Choreography, Dance; Audra Langley - Makeup; Danielle Wertz - Producer, Creative Direction, Dance
Music Credits: Sam Priven - Alto Saxophone; Keith Ganz - Guitar; Javier Santiago - Piano, Keyboard; Owen Clapp - Upright Bass; Evan Hyde - Drums; Danielle Wertz - Voice, Composition, Lyrics
Official Music Video: Indigo Silence
Music by Ian Faquini; Arrangement & Lyrics by Natalie Cressman
Film Credits: Molly Levy - Choreography, Direction, Editing, Dance; Dillon Vado - Videography; Julianna Cressman - Dance
Music Credits: Natalie Cressman - vocals & trombone solo; Ian Faquini - guitar; Kanoa Mendenhall - bass; Douglas Alonso - percussion; Jeff Cressman - trombone; Jeff Weinmann - flute
A Tone Traveler Production
Film Credits: Robin Dekkers - Director; Benjamin Tarquin - Cinematographer, Editor; Daniel Berkman - Composer and Musician; Bouchra Rachid Pinto - Creative Producer; Joey LaBarge - Production Assistant
Choreography by Robin Dekkers with significant contributions from the performers
Performed by Crystaldawn Bell, Charmaine Butcher, Mia J. Chong, Cora Cliburn, Landes Dixon, Lexi Duff, Colin Frederick, Emily Hansel, Babatunji Johnson, Molly Levy, DeMarco Sleeper
Produced by Inner Child Productions in collaboration with Post:ballet
Vignettes from the creation of "To Have It All" Katie Scherman + Artists (March 2018) Captured and edited beautifully by Robert Uehlin. Music by Michael Wall.
Teaching
Current Teaching Offerings:
Intro to Ballet for Adults - a 4-week series for absolute beginners offering a grounded introduction to the building blocks of ballet in a safe and supportive environment. Upcoming in January/February 2024 (1/20, 1/27, 2/3, 2/10).
Molly also teaches youth dance classes at Shawl-Anderson Dance Center and Ah-Lan Dance in the East Bay
If you are interested in private or small group lessons, please reach out via email at [email protected]
Testimonials
FROM A PARENT:
“For the past eight weeks, Noga & Zohar had taken Storytelling in dance parts 1 & 2, with Molly Levy. Noga also took a class with her during Jam Camp in summer. That's how we knew she can zoom dance classes well. I arranged my time and clients, so I can get to watch them dance together. That's how good it was. Molly is inspiring to work with, energetic, and is able to match the kids' energy, even via Zoom (which is not an easy task). It was a pleasure and a wonder to watch what the three of them create together.”
- Shirley ShaniFROM STUDENTS:
“Molly taught us real tools to create with. We could come in any mood, be crazy fun or seriously working, and she matched us. She did not judge us, and tailored the lesson to us. She let us take our time when we created.”
- Noga“This was super fun. Those who didn't take lessons with Molly, really missed out! She also shared a really good book to dance with. This was super creative and spontaneous.”
- Zohar
Upcoming
Molly is currently working with Paufve Dance and Sharp & Fine for two new shows in August and October 2024. You can learn more about both companies at paufvedance.org and sharpandfine.org
The best way to find out about upcoming performances, workshops, classes, and other creative projects is through my email list.
