Alicia E. Díaz De León
Architectural Choreographer
Architectural Choreographer
Alicia Díaz de León is an architect/engineer, and choreographer. Her work explores dance as a trial and error process of experimentation from the inside as reflected on the outside. She debuted as a choreographer with her ballet "RedMasque" (2019), and followed with individual works called "Pandemic Improvisations" (2020), in which she explores the creative potential of Ballet and movement improvisation.
Alicia is currently in the process of creating new works that explore comedy, form-space-order, storytelling, architectural pleasure, among other topics.
Alicia is currently in the process of creating new works that explore comedy, form-space-order, storytelling, architectural pleasure, among other topics.
Detailed BIO
Alicia began her dance training in her native Puerto Rico as a child, comprising Ballet, Spanish Dance and Jazz, as well as Puerto Rican Folkloric dances (Bomba, Plena, etc.). As a teen, she performed the roles of Mouse and Mouse Queen in Ballet Concierto de Puerto Rico’s production of "El Cascanueces" ("The Nutcracker"). As an AFS foreign exchange high school student in Canada, Alicia nurtured her passion for performing at various school events.
Alicia earned a Bachelor in Environmental Design, Magna Cum Laude, from the University of Puerto Rico, followed by a Master of Architecture (Structural Engineering Option) from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She also earned a Summer Program Certificate in Architecture and Landscape Architecture from Tongji University in Shanghai, PRC, where she was introduced to Tai-Chi. Her consulting practice is focused on Forensic Engineering.
As an adult, Alicia studied ballet at Joffrey Ballet School in NYC. While at Joffrey, she performed supporting roles in "Sleeping Beauty" and "The Nutcracker". In 2009, she moved to the DC Metro Area where she attends classes and workshops, and performs at various area studios.
In 2019, Alicia earned her ICON SMART™ USA Method Diploma Certification in Choreography from ICONS Choreographic Institute in Washington, DC. She is an Elementary Body Alignment System (EBAS) Certified Teacher.
She has taken Master Ballet and Dance classes with some of the most renowned visiting international companies at the Kennedy Center in Washington DC, including Mariinsky Ballet, The National Ballet of Canada, Malpaso Dance Company, The New York City Ballet, The Susan Farrell Ballet, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, The San Francisco Ballet, Swedish Ballet, Nederlands Dans Theater, Matthew Bourne's New Adventures, Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane, and others.
She performed a Supernumerary role with American Ballet Theater in "Sleeping Beauty" at the Kennedy Center in 2016. In 2017, she performed with Miya Hisaka’s Classical Repertory Dance Theater, and in Dance Place/ClancyWorks Repertory Class contemporary dance workshop. Alicia also trained and performed at ballet summer intensives in Washington, DC, Vancouver, WA, and Richmond, VA.
She has volunteered at Maryland Youth Ballet's Music & Motion dance program for kids with special needs. She's a member of Dance USA, and a Lifetime Member of the Girl Scouts of the USA. Drawing on her passion and commitment to dance and her background in architecture/engineering, Alicia is an enthusiastic advocate for the diversification and advancement of STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, math) in education and pracctice.
Alicia earned a Bachelor in Environmental Design, Magna Cum Laude, from the University of Puerto Rico, followed by a Master of Architecture (Structural Engineering Option) from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She also earned a Summer Program Certificate in Architecture and Landscape Architecture from Tongji University in Shanghai, PRC, where she was introduced to Tai-Chi. Her consulting practice is focused on Forensic Engineering.
As an adult, Alicia studied ballet at Joffrey Ballet School in NYC. While at Joffrey, she performed supporting roles in "Sleeping Beauty" and "The Nutcracker". In 2009, she moved to the DC Metro Area where she attends classes and workshops, and performs at various area studios.
In 2019, Alicia earned her ICON SMART™ USA Method Diploma Certification in Choreography from ICONS Choreographic Institute in Washington, DC. She is an Elementary Body Alignment System (EBAS) Certified Teacher.
She has taken Master Ballet and Dance classes with some of the most renowned visiting international companies at the Kennedy Center in Washington DC, including Mariinsky Ballet, The National Ballet of Canada, Malpaso Dance Company, The New York City Ballet, The Susan Farrell Ballet, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, The San Francisco Ballet, Swedish Ballet, Nederlands Dans Theater, Matthew Bourne's New Adventures, Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane, and others.
She performed a Supernumerary role with American Ballet Theater in "Sleeping Beauty" at the Kennedy Center in 2016. In 2017, she performed with Miya Hisaka’s Classical Repertory Dance Theater, and in Dance Place/ClancyWorks Repertory Class contemporary dance workshop. Alicia also trained and performed at ballet summer intensives in Washington, DC, Vancouver, WA, and Richmond, VA.
She has volunteered at Maryland Youth Ballet's Music & Motion dance program for kids with special needs. She's a member of Dance USA, and a Lifetime Member of the Girl Scouts of the USA. Drawing on her passion and commitment to dance and her background in architecture/engineering, Alicia is an enthusiastic advocate for the diversification and advancement of STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, math) in education and pracctice.
Choreographic Journey
Drawing on her work as an architect and engineer, her lifelong dedication to ballet, and formal training in EBAS and choreography, Alicia approaches dance with academic rigor, while allowing space for free-spirited improvisation.
Alicia's interest in choreography began at a very young age, filling notebooks and sketchbooks with images of dancers and choreographies. While an exchange student, she produced, performed, and directed the Latin American segment of the international artistic show at AFS Canada's welcome camp. This experience ignited Alicia's desire to pursue opportunities in choreography.
For her ICONS Choreographic Institute’s thesis dance project, she debuted the 21-minute ballet "RedMasque", which received favorable online reviews from local dance critics.
During the COVD-19 pandemic, Alicia explored and developed new choreographic vocabulary through improvisation, movement experimentation, and innovation. She created several hours of videos from those Pandemic Improvisations.
Alicia is currently developing new choreographic material for future ballet and dance works.
Alicia's interest in choreography began at a very young age, filling notebooks and sketchbooks with images of dancers and choreographies. While an exchange student, she produced, performed, and directed the Latin American segment of the international artistic show at AFS Canada's welcome camp. This experience ignited Alicia's desire to pursue opportunities in choreography.
For her ICONS Choreographic Institute’s thesis dance project, she debuted the 21-minute ballet "RedMasque", which received favorable online reviews from local dance critics.
During the COVD-19 pandemic, Alicia explored and developed new choreographic vocabulary through improvisation, movement experimentation, and innovation. She created several hours of videos from those Pandemic Improvisations.
Alicia is currently developing new choreographic material for future ballet and dance works.