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Updated 5/22/2024

Laila J. Franklin

  • M

    MA

Institution/Business Type: Artist / Creative (Individual)

Laila J. Franklin is a multidisciplinary dance artist based in Boston, Massachusetts. Her work explores kinetic imagination through the juxtaposition of virtuosic and intimate performances. She is interested in meta-commentary, deconstruction, and bits, approaching themes surrounding the human experience with complexity, nuance, curiosity, and humor. Her work extends from lineages of traditional and experimental Black, queer dance makers, with a particular interest in the collision of postmodernist creation frameworks and story ballet.

Laila’s work has been presented by Public Space One (IA), Loculus Collective Sideways Door II Festival (MA), Movement Research at The Judson Church (NY), School of Contemporary Dance and Thought (MA), and commissioned by Brown University (RI) and the Boston Conservatory at Berklee (MA). She has been the recipient of multiple research and performance residencies through the Boston Center for the Arts - Run of the Mills Residency (2022), Dancemakers Laboratory (2022/23), and Boston Dancemakers Residency (2023/24). While completing her MFA, Laila was an Iowa Arts Fellow (2019-2021), and post-MFA, she served as a Dance/USA Archiving and Preservation Fellow (2023) to Jennifer Harge/HargeDanceStories in Detroit, MI.

Laila’s performance credits include projects with Ruckus Dance (MA), Haus of Pvmnt (NY), Miguel Gutierrez, Dr. Christopher-Rasheem McMillan, Jennifer Kayle, Melinda Jean Myers, and Stephanie Miracle. While an undergraduate student, Laila had the opportunity to perform as a featured dancer in works by Keith Thompson, Aszure Barton, and Mark Morris.

Laila has been working as a teaching artist since 2018, teaching community class series' in the Greater Boston Area through Midday Movement Series and VLA Dance. She has served as a graduate teaching assistant at the University of Iowa and was a Visiting Lecturer in Music and Dance at Salem State University (MA). She also serves as a consultant and collaborator for social justice education projects and programming for Midday Movement Series.

Laila holds an MFA in Dance from the University of Iowa, and a BFA in Contemporary Dance Performance from The Boston Conservatory. She is a proud alumna of the dance department of Duke Ellington School of the Arts (DC). She has completed additional training through the Trinity Laban Conservatoire (LDN), the Lion's Jaw Dance and Performance Festival (MA), Movement Research (NY), The Field Center (VT), and the Bates Dance Festival (ME).

Find Me

Laila Franklin (she/they)
Job Title: Dance Artist
Address:
Boston, MA 02128

About

Overview

Institution/Business Type:

Artist / Creative (Individual)

Legal Status:

Commercial / For profit - Sole proprietorship

Year Founded:

2018

Overview

Institution/Business Type:

Artist / Creative (Individual)

Legal Status:

Commercial / For profit - Sole proprietorship

Year Founded:

2018

Disciplines

Primary Discipline:

Dance - Modern / Contemporary

Additional Disciplines:

  • Multi-Disciplinary

Activities and Services

Activities and Services:

  • Arts Criticism / Journalism
  • Arts for Social Change / Creative Activism
  • Creation of a Work of Art (Including Commissions)
  • Writing Services
  • Arts Instruction / Lessons
  • Residency - In School
  • Workshops / Demonstrations / Master Class
  • Consulting - Organizational Capacity
  • Performance / Concert / Reading
  • Residency - Community
  • Consulting - Curatorial Services
Seasons Active: spring, summer, fall, winter
Events Per Year: 3

Communities

Populations Engaged:

  • Adults
  • General Public
  • LGBTQ Populations
  • Nonprofits
  • School Groups

Languages Available:

  • English

Geographic Reach:

  • International

Media Gallery

I Have Worked With

Affiliations and Accomplishments

Awards

Awards:

  • Dance Magazine 2024 "25 to Watch"

Awards

Awards:

  • Dance Magazine 2024 "25 to Watch"

Education

Education:

  • MFA in Dance, University of Iowa, 2021
  • BFA in Contemporary Dance Performance, The Boston Conservatory, 2019

Special Designations

Special Designations:

  • NEFA Grant Recipient

Artist Info

Teaching Artist

Teaching Settings:

  • Arts and Cultural Center / Venue
  • Community Site / Center
  • Private Studio
  • School / University

Ages Served:

  • High School-age
  • College-age
  • Adults

Subject Areas:

  • Dance

Certifications and Training:

  • Master of Fine Arts in Dance

Fee range:

$40 - $1,700

Teaching Artist

Teaching Settings:

  • Arts and Cultural Center / Venue
  • Community Site / Center
  • Private Studio
  • School / University

Ages Served:

  • High School-age
  • College-age
  • Adults

Subject Areas:

  • Dance

Certifications and Training:

  • Master of Fine Arts in Dance

Fee range:

$40 - $1,700

Touring Artist

NEST Eligible Artist

Technical Requirements:

  • Sound
  • Marley, or Multipurpose Flooring
  • Smooth, even floor
  • Sprung Floors
  • Basic Lighting Grid

Fee Range:

The following rates cover one performer Open to flat rates on a case-by-case basis Local (Within the Greater Boston Area) Performance Fee, Per Show: $150 - $300 Per Diem: $60 Travel: $60 Traveling (Outside of the Greater Boston Area) Performance Fee, Per Show: $150 - $300 Per Diem: $60 Travel: $250 Lodging: $125, per day

State of Residence:

Massachusetts

Minimum Number of Performers:

1

Maximum Number of Performers:

13