Founded by Lilia Leon in 2024, as an umbrella for all her creative endeavours, Leon Arts embraces collaboration, versatility and generosity to produce exciting and memorable live performances.
Building off the exciting interplay of contemporary dance and theatre, we create multi-disciplinary works that do not settle into one category or genre. We are drawn to this space because we believe that a rich tapestry of mediums and languages leads to exciting performances that can spark creativity and innovation.
Our process is informed by a passion for interdisciplinary collaborations that can lead to meaningful inter-cultural exchanges. We aim to highlight mixed identities and prioritize the leadership and growth of BIPOC artists, while challenging hierarchies in the creative process.
Lilia Leon
Lilia Leon is a Mexican-Canadian performing artist with Mestizo heritage, whose artistic practice includes performance, choreography, education and mentoring in dance and theatre. She holds a BA Degree in Dance from York University and is a graduate of Dance Arts Institute (formerly School of Toronto Dance Theatre). Lilia has had the pleasure of working with remarkable Indigenous, Canadian and Latin American artists and companies including Aluna Theatre, Anita La Selva, Aanmitaagzi, Carlos Rivera, Kaeja d’ Dance, Norma Araiza, Olga Barrios, Penny Couchie, Vanguardia Dance Projects and Wind in the Leaves Collective—all of whom have instilled her practice with the values of integrity, imagination, and inclusion. In her choreography she is drawn to themes of identity, home and ancestry, and is an advocate for BIPOC artists’ increased representation in the arts sector. Always passionate about movement and wellness, Lilia has successfully built a parallel career as a Registered Massage Therapist since 2021, bringing her embodied wisdom into her therapeutic work.