Lianna Norris
Assistant Professor of Dance Instruction
Dancer and choreographer Lianna Norris teaches hip hop dance in the Department of Dance. Her other courses have included Introduction to Dance Movement and Conditioning and Recovery for Dancers.
She has studied jazz, tap, hip hop and other genres at dance schools and with dance companies in Michigan and elsewhere, including attending workshops with Rhapsody James, Andye Jamison and Janelle Ginestra. As a freelance choreographer and teacher she has created dances and led master classes for college and high school dance teams and professional dance companies. In 2023 she joined the national judging panel for the Turn It Up Dance Challenge.
Professor Norris began teaching at Hope in 2022 and became a full-time member of the dance faculty in 2024.
AREAS OF EXPERTISE
- Hip hop
- Jazz
- Choreography
- Strength and conditioning
EDUCATION
- B.S., biology, Jackson State University, 2015
SELECTED CHOREOGRAPHY CREDITS
- Choreographer, BET+ feature film
- Guest choreographer, Western Michigan University Dance Team
- Guest choreographer, Michigan State University Dance Team
- Residency choreographer, Ball State University Dance and Theatre Department鈥檚 2025 production of 鈥淕roove: Interlocking Cultures through Movement鈥�
OUTSIDE THE COLLEGE
Lianna also prioritizes her own physical wellness. She works out five days a week and enjoys playing tennis during the warmer months. Her active lifestyle helps her stay energized and connected to the physical demands of the art form.