Lora Lue Chiorah-Dye

Primary Discipline: Dance

Areas of Specialty: African traditional and contemporary dance

Additional Disciplines/Specialties: Music

Based in: Kirkland
Phone: 425-823-2030

Biography: Lora Lue Chiorah-Dye, a native of Zimbabwe, has resided in the Northwest since the 1970s and is the artistic director of Sukutai Cultural Performing Ensemble. She has captivated American audiences with song, storytelling, music and dance from her native culture, the Shona People, and has been instrumental in the development of the Pacific Northwest African cultural scene. She has worked as an artist-in-residence with the Washington State Arts in Education Program for the past 30 years and as a recreation specialist at Langston Hughes Performing Arts Center for 25 years. As a choreographer, she worked on Follow the Drinking Gourd for the Children's Theatre, Takunda for the Seattle Repertory and The Wiz with the Langston Hughes Summer Teens. Ms. Chiorah-Dye and her group have toured the United States and Canda, and have entertained the U.S. military in many countries, including Iceland, Denmark, England, Scotland.

When asked about her approach as a Teaching Artist, Ms. Chiorah-Dye wrote this: ”The Shona people of Zimbabawe believe that if you can walk, you can dance, and if you can talk, you can sing. They believe that dance and song come from within; they are a way of life. My work as a teaching artist is based on these beliefs. I teach students through music, song, games and movements that naturally lead to dance. My classes include developing an awareness of the way we stand and of the relationship of our posture to the earth. Students become more comfortable with their bodies and because of that, more comfortable with others. I want them to have fun using their bodies without being self conscious. Through dance and music, students also learn about another culture, and hopefully, become more curious about their own backgrounds.”

Suitable for Grades: K-12
Preferred Grades: 3-12

Curriculum Integration Possibilities: Literacy, Reading, Writing, History, Social Studies, Other Art Disciplines

Additional Interests/Experience:

Leading Professional Development workshops for K-12 Teachers
Working with at risk students
Working with students with special needs / disabilities
Working with students who are English Language Learners

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