Risa Steinberg

Risa Steinberg was born in New York City and graduated from Juilliard with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. She has been active in the dance community for more than 35 years as a performer, teacher, and re-constructor of José Limón’s work and mentor to young and emerging choreographers. She has travelled the world performing and teaching extensively.

A former principal dancer with the José Limón Dance Company, Bill Cratty Dance Theater, Annabel Gamson, Anna Sokolow’s Player’s Project, Colin Connor, and American Repertory Dance Company of Los Angeles, Steinberg has also been a guest artist with choreographers including Wally Cardona, Sean Curran, and Danza Hoy of Caracas, Venezuela. Her acclaimed solo concert A Celebration of Dance featured a diverse repertoire which included work by Isadora Duncan and contemporary choreographers. As a reconstructor of Limón’s work, Steinberg has worked with companies and dancers including Nureyev and Friends, Frank Augustyn, and Karen Kain. A longtime Juilliard faculty member, she held the position of associate director of Juilliard Dance from 2009 to 2016. She was a dance panelist for the New York State Council on the Arts, is on the artists advisory board for the José Limón Dance Foundation, and serves on the selection committee for the “Bessie” Awards. Steinberg is the choreographic advisor and rehearsal coach for Brian Brooks Moving Company, Emory LeCrone, and Kate Weare Dance Company. She has also been a cast member of Sleep No More.