Lisa Sandlos

Dr. Lisa Sandlos is a faculty member at York University in Toronto, Canada, with cross-departmental affiliations in Kinesiology, Dance, and Women's Studies. She holds a PhD in Gender, Feminist and Women's Studies and an MA in Dance, complemented by her certification as a Movement Analyst (CMA) through the Laban Institute of Movement Studies.

• Education: PhD in Gender, Feminist and Women's Studies; MA in Dance
• Specializations: Somatics, improvisation, interdisciplinary movement/dance modalities

Her research examines the sexualization of competitive dance and its impact on young dancers and societal perceptions of dance. She has collaborated extensively with artists across disciplines through programs like the Ontario Arts Council’s Artists in Education initiative and the National Ballet of Canada’s Creating Dances program. Sandlos’ work bridges movement analysis, gender studies, and interdisciplinary arts education, with a focus on somatic practices in dance and community engagement.

She co-founded the organization Soma-City with Rennie Tang, exploring intersections of movement and landscape design. Her teaching spans contemporary dance, somatics, and improvisation, delivered in diverse settings including the Toronto District School Board’s Drama/Dance Project and international institutions such as the University of the West Indies.