Biography
Karen Eliza (b. 1983, North Carolina) is an artist whose creative background is rooted in worlds of contemporary dance, spatial design, and somatic presence.
New York City (2004–2014)
After earning a BFA in Contemporary Dance from the University of North Carolina School of the Arts (2004) and practicing as a member of the Rohgun Dojo for several years, Karen relocated to New York City. She collaborated and performed with a number of downtown choreographers including Neta Pulvermacher, Rebecca Lazier, and Jin Ju Song-Begin, while also developing her own choreographic voice.
During her time in NYC, Karen began to expand into teaching and video work. She partnered with Free Arts NYC to bring movement workshops to underserved children, and earned certifications as a private fitness instructor, strength & conditioning specialist, and meditation Instructor. This period marked a shift in her choreographic language toward organic movement, moving meditations, and site-specific explorations.
Berlin, Germany (2014–2018)
Karen relocated to Berlin in 2014 where she held a 15-month artist residency at Lake Studios Berlin. This period allowed her to dive more fully into the work and play of improvisation. She led movement workshops at the university level for both pre-professionals and amateur dancers and collaborated with local artists and musicians. For about one year, she also served as a production coordinator for an explainer video production company.
Berlin’s unique and atmospheric interiors sparked a deeper interest in design. Following a impactful three-month stay in Portugal researching her solo site-specific performance of Underneath for Riu d’Art in Spain, Karen returned to her roots in North Carolina.
Raleigh, NC (2018–Present)
Back in the United States, Karen earned a BS in Interior Design from a CIDA accredited college and consulted for a few years for a local commercial health and wellness designer. After the pandemic, she completed a teacher training program led by Eckhart Tolle and Kim Eng in 2023.
As a neurodivergent and highly sensitive person, she is continually learning how to find her way.
