A Life of Dancing.
Since May 2017, Lisette “Lis” Godoy has been visiting the United States and is currently staying in Washington, DC. She feels especially lucky to be invited as an observer of the process of creating ambitious new modern dance works by two critically acclaimed DC dance companies, Company E and KyokoDansu.
It is no wonder why this has happened.
An accomplished Cuban dancer, Lis grew up in Holguín, Cuba where her mother directed the Codanza Dance Company for Contemporary and Modern Dance. She spent her childhood as a company member and had her first performance in a main role at only six years old.
When Lis was 10, she was accepted into the Professional Dance School at the elementary level as a ballet student but quickly realized she preferred the Codanza (contemporary) style of dancing more. At the age of 15, Cuban dance students are required to audition for advancement to the intermediate level. Lis was selected as one of only 40 students to move forward.
At this level, Lis had the opportunity to study classes of Modern Technique, Afro-Cuban Folklore, Ballet, Basic Acrobatics, Composition, and Music Education. After three years of study, she graduated as a professional dancer and teacher.
With her professional status, she rejoined her mother’s dance company where she danced for 6 years with several main roles. In her sixth year, Lis won the City Award for Best Female Interpretation for a new piece titled “NDA” by Norge Cedeno (1st Dancer of the National Dance Company in Cuba). This award was presented at the end of the Cultural Festival in Holguín.
With that success, Lis moved to Havana and has been working as an independent dancer ever since for companies including Danza Abierta and Malpaso Dance Company.
In September 2016, she returned to her hometown to participate in the Vladimir Malakhov International Contest. With a piece she choreographed herself, Error 3.0, Lis won a grant allowing her to study at any dance company in the world.
In March 2017 she participated in a Choreography Contest “Impulse” in Havana hosted by Retazos Dance Company where she was awarded “Best in Choreography.”
Dance has always been part of my life.
Havana Flash Mob
Awards.
- 1st Level Contemporary Dancer
- 2014 City Award “Best Female Interpretation”, Choreography– “NDA”
- 2016 Best Choreography Award, Impulso, Choreographed by myself “Error 3.0”
- 2016 Award “Scholarship Paul Seaquits” hosted by Vladimir Malakhov, 3rd Edition of Vladimir Malakhov International Contest, Choreographed by myself “Error 3.0”
