Sarah Gottlieb
(they/she)
+34-644-894-085 sarahgcircle@gmail.com sarahgottlieb.com
Education
PhD: Practice-as-Research at the intersection of fascia and trans* studies | Funded by The Center for Dance Research | Coventry University &Deakin University
MRes, Choreography and Performance, University of Roehampton | 2023 | Distinction
BA in Conscious Studies of the Body and Movement, Depaul University | 2013 | 4.0 GPA
University Lecturer
Visiting Lecturer of dance at Roehampton University, London since 2022
Assignments
Supervisor of final dissertations | MA | 2024-2025
Facilitating dissertation development | MA | 2025
Practice as Research | MA | 2024
Dance Practice /Technique | MA | 2023-current
Dance Practice /Technique | BA | 2023-current
Choreographer of Performance Projects | MA | 2023-2025
Summer Training Program/ Technique | MA | 2025
Choreographic works made for students
for times of imminent might | 2025
Close | 2024
Comb: extract/granulation | 2023
Past Position as Lecturer of Dance
Columbia College Chicago | Adjunct Faculty in Dance, Theater and Interdisciplinary Arts Departments | 2013-2016
Universidad de Cali, Colombia | Guest in Linguistics | 2017
Universidad de Nebrija, Madrid | Guest in Visual Arts and Performance | 2016
DePaul University, Chicago | Guest in Theater | 2015-16
Purdue University, Indiana | Guest in Dance | 2015
University of Chicago, Chicago | Guest in Philosophy | 2015
Performer
selected performances
Emilyn Claid | Trembling Forest | London 2025
Delicia Sefiha | Imprint#Love: A writer’s workshop | Fest-en-Fest | National Tour Funded by Arts Council England | 2023
Alba Soto and Sarah Gottlieb | De-Li-Be-Rate | El Matadero | Madrid 2016
Sarah Gottlieb | Yolk Solo, part A | National Theater | Puebla Mexico 2015-2016
Lindsay Reich | Easing Point | The other dance festival | Hamlin Park Fieldhouse | Chicago 2012
Ayako Kato | Ten Nights Dream: Sound and Movement Mandala | Links Hall | Chicago Cultural Center | Chicago 2008
Twyla Tharp | The Fugue | Sarah Lawrence College | The Joyce Center Theater | New York 2006
Choreographer
selected works
Spec
Researches connective tissue of the body as it pertains to rights and community. The practical component of a Masters of Research at Roehampton University, Spec is a full-length performance devised of structured dance improvisation scores that experiment with the possible intersections between the fascia network and International Human Rights. | 2023
DIND (Dances in The Dark)
A piece set in darkness explores the physical genius of social marginality. Supported by La Tortuga, Centro Cívico La Sagrada Familia | Toured 2019-2020
Yolk
Yolk considers the role of fertility in gender constructs and otherworldly power. Supported by DCASE, Judith Dawn Memorial Foundation, Links Hall | Toured 2015-2016
Tones of Belonging
An improvised durational dance performance actively reshapes patterns of trauma and healing in gallery spaces, performed and devised in collaboration with ceramicist Corinne Peterson's The Cairn Project. Supported by 3-Arts Chicago | 2015-2017
Collaborations
selected works
Care on the Breeze
Artistic Residence with Alison Kopit | Gibney Arts Center and Dance NYC Disability | 2022
Entre Ladrillos
Ivelice Brown and Sarah Gottlieb | Supported by La Tortuga and GreenEurope Conference | 2018
Tongues Bells Baths Queens
Ilona Bito and Sarah Gottlieb | Supported by Movement Research and BKSD Studios | 2018
Ala y Mesura
Alba Soto and Sarah Gottlieb | Supported by Modus Operandi Gallery | 2016-2018
Grants for Choreography
Madrid en Crudo Creative Residence | Madrid 2020 | Corium
Creative Project Award CCIC | La Tortuga | 2018 | DIND
DCASE: Chicago Cultural Center Individual Artist Grant Awardee 2014 | Yolk
DCASE: Chicago Cultural Center Individual Artist Grant Awardee 2016 | Tones of Belonging
Featured Artist 3-Arts Chicago 2015 | Tones of Belonging
Judith Dawn Memorial Fund 2014 | Yolk
Judith Dawn Memorial Fund Grant Awardee 2014
Links Hall Creative Time Sponsorship Award 2014 | Yolk
Critical Acclamation
Seven-Best-Dances-of-2015: Windy City Times, by Lauren Warnecke | Yolk | Performer, Director | 2015
BodyCrossing #2: Performance Response Journal, by Sara Zalek | Deliberate| Collaboration Alba Soto and Sarah Gottlieb | 2016
Feminizar la escena, by Paula Lamamie de Clairac | Ala y Mesura by Sarah Gottlieb and Alba Soto | 2017
Curatorial Cultural Worker
Escucha Activa: La Nevera del Pueblo
A series of participatory theater events about Sub-Saharan migration devised through testimonies and refugee rights organizing | La Tortuga 2021
Dances in the Dark: Laboratory Workshops
A series of workshops facilitated by different dance artists representing diverse experiences of social marginalization | Madrid | La Tortuga 2019
Round-table discussions about issues of equality, representation, discrimination and cultural appropriation in the arts | La Tortuga 2019
Sex, Gender, Performance
A series of performance events focusing on trans* and queer artists in a gallery dedicated to exhibiting art by survivors | Awakenings Gallery 2014
Dance Educator in Communities
LGBTQIA+
Staff Training | Queer Asterisk | 2022
Authentic Movement | La Mala Mujer Trans-Feminist Community Center | Madrid | 2019-2020
Sin Roles, classes about consent and bodily autonomy | Espacios de Igualdad Madrid | 2019
Tacto Comunicativo | Touch literacy classes | Espacios de Igualdad Madrid | 2020
Queering Contact Improvisation | Multiple venues throughout France and Spain | 2017-2020
What's Carried Moves Workshops for survivors of sexual violence | Multiple arts and community venues | 2016-2020
Immigration and Racial Justice
Dances in the Dark: Laboratory Workshops La Tortuga | 2019-2020
Ecology
Environmental stewardship through blended dance and science education. Roles Included: Curricular development; event organization; classroom, afterschool and field educator; youth performance assistant director, performer | LakeDance | 2012-2016
Disability
Sensory learning through movement in natural environments Lakedance and Alden Village collaboration | LakeDance | 2016
Visual art and movement classes for adolescents-adults with physical and cognitive disabilities | Chicago Park District | 2011-2012
Improvised movement classes for children with neural and behavioral disorders | Evanston Arts Camp | 2007
Anatomy Educator
Bartenieff Fundamentals | Since 2014
Franklin Method fascia workshops | Since 2022
Pelvic floor workshops | Since 2022
The Anatomy of Perception: Interoception, Proprioception, Exteroception | Since 2023
Subcutaneous fat workshops | Since 2018
Trans* Health | Since 2023
Contact Improvisation
CI Classes and Workshops
Samples
TicTac Art Center Belgium | 2023
The Anatomy of Perception (La anatomía de la percepción) weekend intensive | Tombuktu Teatro | 2022
Thinking micro-macro through fascia | 2-day workshop | Dance Makers Lab Hope St. Studio | 2024
Weekly class | Estudio 3 | Spain | 2018-2020
CI Projects
Anatomy Jam
Creator and facilitator of a monthly jam that began with a somatic investigation of anatomical structures
La Puerta Roja | Estudio 3 |Madrid | 2017-2020
Queering CI
Queering CI co-created with Aurora Valverde Lugand | France and Spain | 2018-2020
Tacto Comunicativo (communicative touch/tact)
Multiple workshops developing material about consent, queerness and touch literacy
Barcelona, Pais Basco, Valencia, Madrid and Granada Spain | 2016-2023
Timing in CI
Series co-created with Catalina Mahecha, taught across Colombia and Spain | 2018-2029
CI Jam Organizer
AnatomyJam | 2017-2020
Chicago Contact Improv Collective | 2014-2016
CI Festival Teacher
Mazomani | 2025
Cardedeu CI teacher and consent training | 2019
Topaketa | 2017
GLACIER | 2013-2015
GLACIER teaching team director | 2014-2015,
Mazomani | 2015-2017
West Coast CI Jam | 2014
CI Conferences
The Politics of Patience: covid lessons for embodied allyship
Future of Contact Improvisation International Conference, Earthdance MA | 2021
Live interview about writing Myths to Break-Down with Richard Kim
Consent Culture CI Symposium, Earthdance MA | 2020
CI in Universities
University of Roehampton | Visiting Lecturer in Dance MA and BA | 2022-25
Liverpool Hope University| Guest Lecturer in Dance | 2023
Universidad de Cali, Colombia | Guest Lecturer in Linguistics | 2017
Columbia College, Chicago | Guest Lecturer in Dance | 2016
DePaul University, Chicago | Guest Lecturer in Theater | 2015-16
Purdue University, Indiana | Guest Lecturer in Dance | 2015
University of Chicago, Chicago | Guest Lecturer in Philosophy | 2015
CI Publications
Myths to Break-Down: Moving toward ethical communication and ethical sexuality in contact improvisation | Series edited by Richard Kim and published at ContactImprovBlog.com | 2016-2020
Somatic Credentials
Lower Back Specialist | Franklin Method | 2025
Spiral Body Techniques | MollyShanahan/MadShack | 2024
Pelvic Floor Specialist | Franklin Method | 2023
Franklin Method Level 2 Trainer | 2023
Certified Franklin Method Pelvic Floor Specialist | 2021
Certified Sex Educator | Everybody Deserves Sex Education | 2021
Certified Gyrotonic Expansion System Level 1 Trainer | 2019
Laban Movement Analyst with Touch for Repatterning cert. | Integrated Movement Studies | 2014
Certified Birth Doula | Women’s Way | 2014
Conferences
Strategic illegalism, revealing faultlines | Empirical Philosophies Stream | London Critical Conference | Scheduled July 2023
The Politics of Patience: covid lessons for embodied allyship | Future of Contact Improvisation International Conference, Earthdance MA | 2021
Live interview about writing Myths to Break-Down with Richard Kim | Consent Culture CI Symposium, Earthdance MA | 2020
3
Other Skills and Merits
International Excellence Award University of Roehampton | 2022-23
Good Story Grant Writers Award | 2021
Writers Award DePaul University | 2013
Languages: English and Spanish | fluent
Extensive global travel and cultural engagement
Piñata Maker