Elizabeth Hein

Liz began dancing at the age of four, and by thirteen, she was spending most of her evenings and weekends in the studio taking as many ballet, tap, jazz, and pointe classes as she could fit into her schedule. She attended summer dance intensives where she studied with Marjorie Thompson (NYCB), Robin Stiehm (Minnesota Dance Theatre), Marc Wayne, Bruce Stegmann, and Jay Fagan. As a junior in high school, she earned a full scholarship to the Chicago National Association of Dance Masters instructor training program and had the honor of taking a master class with Gelsey Kirkland (NYCB). By her senior year, she was teaching multiple youth dance classes and choreographing for annual showcases. She was also selected to perform in a dance troupe that traveled to Russia for a cultural exchange, where she participated in a master class led by faculty from the Bolshoi Ballet Academy.

Liz continued dancing at St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota. Despite having minimal modern dance experience, she was selected as a freshman to perform in a trio with senior members of the dance department. For the next three years, she danced with the college’s modern company, Companydance, performing works by Anthony Roberts (Repertory Theatre and Ririe-Woodbury Dance Company), Janice Haws Roberts (Ririe-Woodbury), and Art Bridgman and Myrna Packer (Bridgman | Packer Dance).

After nearly two decades of rigorous training and performance, Liz took a step back from dance to pursue a legal career. She believed she had retired from dance—until the fall of 2023, when she discovered Local Motion Project. After taking her first class, the spark she had always felt for dance reignited. Liz is now an active participant in LMP’s adult program, serves on the organization’s board of directors, and is thrilled to be stepping into a teaching role where she can share her lifelong love of dance with the next generation.