Julia M. Piper is a transdisciplinary choreographer and educator. Hailing from Ann Arbor, MI, Julia trained in dance, musical theatre, and flute, and continues to work across disciplines in the performing arts. Currently, she is an MFA-Candidate in Duke University’s Embodied Interdisciplinary Praxis program, where she studies the fields of Dance and Environmental Humanities. Her thesis performance, portal obscura, capstones her research in movement as a method for exploring ecological relationships. She is a member of Duke’s Laboratory for Social Choreography, and a Climate Communications Fellow. She received her BA with Honors in Dance and Environmental Studies at Goucher College, where she was president and musical director of Goucher’s musical theatre club, and employed as the dance program’s Costume Manager and Student Ambassador. Julia has taught dance to students Pre K- adult for more than 10 years. She is the Director of Dance at Baltimore Actor’s Theatre Conservatory, has taught performing arts at Baltimore City Public Schools, and dance at the St. Paul’s Schools in Baltimore County where she has won awards for her choreography at competitions. Julia has also taught and performed contemporary dance theatre works across the DMV area, New York City, Germany, and at Conero Dance Festival in Ancona, Italy. Julia continues to perform, create, and teach in pursuit of a life lived artistically.