Exclusive Interview | Healing Through Movement | Where Is She Now
Beyond the Beat: The Art of Healing Through Movement with Liz LeGrande
She shared stages with Usher, Beyoncé, Katy Perry and Ciara — then walked off the arena floor to chase something the spotlight could not give her: the power of movement to heal. Years after our first conversation, her message has only grown louder.
By Dance Mogul Magazine | Originally featured February 2024 | Updated & expanded 2026
Liz LeGrande — from global stages to the healing power of movement. Photo courtesy of the artist / Dance Mogul Magazine archive.
Artist Spotlight — Where She Stands Now
Liz LeGrande is a commercial-dance veteran turned pioneer of dance as emotional medicine. After a performance career that put her alongside Usher, Beyoncé, Katy Perry and Ciara, she built a somatic practice that fuses movement, breathwork and emotional awareness — leading workshops, guiding one-on-one journeys, and continuing to create for the screen. Her throughline has never changed: dance is not only something you perform. It is something that can put you back together.
When we first sat down with Liz LeGrande, she was doing something few dancers with her résumé ever risk: turning away from the very thing that made her name. She had toured and shared stages with some of the biggest artists on the planet and appeared on the shows that dancers dream about. And she was choosing, deliberately, to talk instead about grief, breath, the nervous system, and the quiet miracle of dancing when no one is watching.
Nearly two years later, the world has caught up to her. Somatic movement, nervous-system regulation and “the body keeps the score” have moved from the margins into everyday wellness conversation — and Liz was talking about all of it before it trended. We are re-publishing her original Dance Mogul Magazine interview in full, then bringing her story current with a career timeline, an honest look at where she stands now, and what the next generation of dancers should take from her example.
The Original Interview
As first published by Dance Mogul Magazine, February 2024 — preserved in full.
Dance Mogul Exclusive Interview…
In the dynamic realm of dance, Liz LeGrande stands as a trailblazer, her career now lighting the way through the profound healing capabilities of dance that often remain veiled from the mainstream spotlight. Having shared the stage with icons like Usher, Beyoncé, Katy Perry, and Ciara, and featured on TV shows such as “Dancing with the Stars,” “America’s Best Dance Crew,” “Step Up Highwater,” and “Shake It Off,” Liz’s journey through the upper echelons of performance art continues to inspire and evolve.
It’s her transformative work beyond the bright lights and big stages that truly defines her legacy so we wanted to catch up with her and find out what’s going on. Moving beyond the traditional confines of dance, she has embraced the art form as a medium for emotional healing and personal evolution. In a heartfelt exchange with Dance Mogul Magazine, Liz opens up about her journey, enriching the conversation with insights and wisdom gleaned from a life deeply intertwined with the healing rhythms and expressive power of movement.
Dance Mogul: Liz, can you pinpoint a moment when dance evolved from just an artistic pursuit to a significant healing tool in your life?
Liz LeGrande: Of course! Years ago, after a particularly tough breakup, the silence in my LA apartment became unbearable. You know those moments when you can feel the pain of loss in every cell of your body? It was one of those. My mentor had just told me, “wherever you go, there you are.” So, I knew there were no distractions that would make this pain go away. In that moment of raw vulnerability, I cleared a small space amidst the clutter of unresolved emotions. In that confined space, I danced, not with the intention of performance but as an act of emotional release. The dance became a medium through which the tangled web of feelings – pain, love, loss – found expression. With each movement, a layer of emotional weight was lifted, offering a sense of liberation from my pain.
“For the first time I danced for ME… healing can emerge from the most modest acts of self-expression.”
For the first time I danced for ME, this wasn’t about perfecting routines I’d performed with Thomas Rhett or Kanye West; it was about something far more primal. That post-dance stillness was revelatory, highlighting a simple yet often overlooked truth: healing can emerge from the most modest acts of self-expression. That night, my living room transformed into a sanctuary of self-discovery, where the dance became a powerful declaration of my inner strength and capacity for joy amidst pain.
Later, as I delved deeper into the connection between movement and well-being, I learned about the profound effects certain movements have on the nervous system. It became clear that engaging in such expressive movements could lead to a more settled nervous system, which is crucial for fostering the kind of internal environment necessary for making real, lasting changes in our lives. This understanding has since reshaped my approach to dance, not just as an art form but as a vital tool for personal transformation and healing.
Dance Mogul: In your sessions, you merge movement, breath, and emotional awareness. How does this trinity work together to foster healing?
Liz LeGrande: In my practice, we engage in a blend of movement, breathwork, and emotional awareness, grounded in the principles of somatic exploration. This approach is a conscious application of neuroscience and psychophysiology, reflecting a deep understanding of the intricate connection between body and mind.
The journey begins with intentional breathwork, an essential element that transcends simple relaxation to act as a pivotal engagement with the autonomic nervous system. Through focused, deep breathing exercises, we activate the parasympathetic nervous system and bring awareness to repressed emotions within – which is essential for facilitating a deeper engagement with one’s self.
As we transition into movement, we delve into the realm of somatic movement, acknowledging the concept that experiences and emotions are not solely housed in the mind but are also imprinted within the body. This perspective is bolstered by neurobiological research, which suggests that the body holds onto memories of past experiences. Through a mix of deliberate, freeform, and mindful movement, participants are allowed to tap into these stored memories, allowing for a natural expression and processing guided by the body’s narrative potential.
This process is enhanced by the principle of neuroplasticity, the brain’s capacity to forge new connections at any stage of life. This element of our practice focuses on fostering adaptability and resilience, encouraging participants to develop new, constructive neural pathways that enable a reconfiguration of their responses to past experiences.
Every session I lead is carefully crafted, weaving together these scientific insights to not just offer moments of self-reflection but to pave the way for genuine personal evolution. Drawing upon the latest discoveries in somatic practices, neuroscience, and epigenetics, I strive to create a space that’s ripe for profound change, where each individual is supported and encouraged to embark on their transformative journey. It’s deeply personal work, rooted in a belief that within each of us lies the potential for significant healing.
“Within each of us lies the potential for significant healing.”
Dance Mogul: Your diverse background must enrich your dance practice. How do these experiences inform your approach?
Liz LeGrande: Growing up in a world where I constantly navigated between different cultures, I learned a lot about resilience and the richness of bringing diverse perspectives together. This background has profoundly shaped my approach to dance. My goal in every class is to create movements that speak to each person’s unique story, ensuring that everyone feels seen and connected in our shared space. I’m passionate about building a place where all kinds of diversity are not just accepted but celebrated, using movement as a way to bring people together and heal.
This approach is very personal to me, rooted in my own experiences of growing up with a mixed heritage in the southern US during the 90s. I often found myself in the middle, not fully fitting into any one group, which was a challenging but eye-opening experience. It taught me the value of finding common ground and the power of shared experiences to heal and unite. Now, my work in movement is more than just teaching steps; it’s about creating a space where people can reconnect with themselves and each other, turning my past challenges into a mission to foster unity and connection through movement.
Dance Mogul: Have you witnessed any transformations in your sessions that stand out to you?
Liz LeGrande: In my sessions, I’ve witnessed many remarkable transformations, but a few stand out for their profound impact. One individual who joined during a time of deep grief initially moved with such caution, their dance and breath barely more than a whisper. Yet, as they continued to engage with the music and the group, a visible shift occurred. Gradually, their movements grew bolder, becoming a powerful expression of releasing pent-up sorrow. It was a deeply moving journey to witness.
Another standout transformation involved a woman who attended my workshop in Los Angeles. She was in recovery from cancer and, unbeknownst to her, was living in the shadow of fear, hesitant to fully embrace life. Through the course of the workshop, she confronted and released various hidden traumas, finding the courage within herself to live more fully. This breakthrough led her to not only reclaim her life but also to thrive, eventually founding a successful business dedicated to helping others.
Dance Mogul: Beyond your work in the healing aspects of dance, are you currently involved in any professional dance projects? Could you share more about what you’re currently working on in that realm?
Liz LeGrande: Yes, alongside my focus on the therapeutic aspects of dance, I’m still very active in the professional dance scene. Recently, I’ve been involved in an exciting project—a dance short film that we’ve just released. It’s the second installment in a three-part series, with this particular piece, in my interpretation, centered around the theme “Connection is at the heart of it all.” Set against the vibrant backdrop of The Bronx and infused with the dynamic rhythms of Bad Bunny music, the film delves into the intricacies of human relationships, exploring how our emotional bonds and friendships can profoundly influence our life’s path. We had the incredible opportunity to film at Tyler Perry Studios, an experience that was nothing short of a dream come true for me. Drawing from my own life’s journey and the myriad of experiences I’ve encountered, being able to transform these into a piece of art has been immensely fulfilling. For those interested in exploring this fusion of dance and storytelling, you can watch the film here:
Liz LeGrande’s narrative in “Beyond the Beat” transcends mere dance; it stands as a testament to the profound transformative force of movement, urging us to delve into the therapeutic possibilities of dance. Her tale extends a captivating invitation to embrace rhythm, confront challenges head-on, and, perhaps, to navigate life’s intricacies with increased elegance and depth of spirit.
The Liz LeGrande Timeline
From arena stages to healing rooms — the arc of a career built on movement.
THE 1990s — SOUTHERN ROOTS
Grows up with a mixed heritage in the southern United States, often “in the middle” between cultures. That early experience of navigating difference — and finding common ground — becomes the foundation of everything she later builds around belonging and connection.
THE COMMERCIAL YEARS — LOS ANGELES & THE BIG STAGE
Builds a professional performance career in Los Angeles, sharing the stage with icons including Usher, Beyoncé, Katy Perry and Ciara, and dancing in productions alongside artists such as Thomas Rhett and Kanye West. Her work reaches national television through “Dancing with the Stars,” “America’s Best Dance Crew,” “Step Up: High Water” and “Shake It Off.”
THE TURNING POINT — DANCING FOR HERSELF
In the quiet of her LA apartment after a painful breakup, Liz dances not to perform but to release — and discovers that movement can do what applause never could. The moment reframes dance, for her, as a tool for emotional healing rather than only a craft for the stage.
BUILDING THE PRACTICE — SOMATIC MOVEMENT
Develops a facilitation practice that blends movement, breathwork and emotional awareness, grounded in somatic exploration, neuroscience, neuroplasticity and epigenetics. She begins leading workshops — including a now-signature Los Angeles session where a cancer-recovery participant works through hidden trauma and goes on to found her own business.
2024 — “BEYOND THE BEAT” & THE SCREEN
Sits down with Dance Mogul Magazine for the “Beyond the Beat” exclusive and is profiled by Elucid Magazine the same month. She premieres a dance short film — the second installment of a three-part series themed “Connection is at the heart of it all,” shot in the Bronx to Bad Bunny’s music and filmed at Tyler Perry Studios — proving she never left the professional dance scene while deepening her healing work.
2026 — AHEAD OF THE CURVE
As somatic movement and nervous-system regulation surge into mainstream wellness, Liz’s early conviction — that the body holds what the mind can’t say — reads as prescient. Dance Mogul Magazine updates and re-publishes her story for a new generation of movers.
Where Is Liz LeGrande Now?
The most striking thing about revisiting Liz LeGrande in 2026 is how much the culture has moved toward her. When she first described activating the parasympathetic nervous system, working with stored emotional memory, and treating movement as medicine, it sounded like the frontier. Today those ideas anchor entire corners of the wellness world — and Liz was articulating them, fluently, before the trend arrived.
Her core work has continued in the shape she described to us: guiding people through movement, breathwork and emotional awareness in workshops and one-on-one journeys, with the same insistence that healing is deeply personal and that “within each of us lies the potential for significant healing.” The dance short film she premiered — the second chapter of her three-part series, shot in the Bronx and filmed at Tyler Perry Studios — remains available to watch above, a reminder that she never chose between the stage and the healing room. She kept both.
“My work in movement is more than just teaching steps; it’s about creating a space where people can reconnect with themselves and each other.”
In the interest of accuracy — the standard our readers hold us to — one note. The personal website Liz shared in her original 2024 interview is no longer active under her name; that web address now resolves to an unrelated business and should not be visited expecting to find her. Rather than send readers to a dead or misleading link, Dance Mogul Magazine invites Liz LeGrande — and anyone who knows how to reach her current practice — to connect with us directly through our contact page so we can keep this profile current for the community that keeps searching for her. If you are Liz, this page is yours to update.
What the Next Generation Should Learn From Liz
For every young dancer chasing the tour, the credit and the arena, Liz LeGrande’s path offers a different and durable lesson plan.
Train the nervous system, not just the choreography.
Liz treats the body as an instrument of regulation, not only performance. The dancers who last are the ones who learn to settle their own systems — because a calm body learns faster, recovers faster and breaks less.
The stage is a chapter, not the whole book.
Credits with Usher or Beyoncé open doors, but they don’t define a life. Build a practice — a skill, a mission, a way of serving people — that outlives any single tour. Liz turned her artistry into something that keeps giving long after the lights go down.
Dance for yourself first.
Her entire second act began the night she danced in a cluttered apartment for an audience of no one. The most powerful movement you will ever make may be the kind nobody is watching. Protect that practice; it is where your voice actually lives.
Turn the “in-between” into your edge.
Liz grew up between cultures and made that in-betweenness the heart of her method — building spaces where everyone feels seen. Whatever made you feel like you didn’t fit is often the exact thing the world needs you to lead with.
Why It Matters to Dance Mogul Magazine
Dance Mogul Magazine has always argued that dance is bigger than entertainment — that it is a vehicle for self-empowerment, discipline and healing. Liz LeGrande is that thesis in human form. She took the most glamorous version of a dance career and then insisted the deeper value was somewhere quieter: in what movement does for the person doing it. That is precisely the story DMM exists to tell.
Her journey lives at the intersection of everything we cover — the craft you can explore across our Dance Styles Hub, the first-person stories in our Exclusive Interviews, and the wellbeing focus of our Health & Empowerment Series. Her refusal to separate performance from purpose is exactly the model of empowerment we want the next generation of dancers to inherit.
Keeping Liz’s story accurate, alive and easy to find is part of that mission. As long as dancers are searching for proof that there is life — and healing — beyond the beat, this profile will be here waiting for them.
Keep Exploring Dance Mogul
• Browse every style in the Dance Styles Hub
• Read more Exclusive Interviews with dancers who changed the game
• Dive into the Health & Empowerment Series
• Get inspired in our Empowerment collection
The Story Continues
Liz LeGrande walked off some of the biggest stages in the world to answer a smaller, harder question: what is dance actually for? Her answer — that movement can settle a nervous system, release a buried grief, and rebuild a person from the inside — has aged into something the whole culture is only now catching up to.
Dance Mogul Magazine will keep telling stories like hers: dancers who prove the art form is a lifelong tool for empowerment, not just a career with an expiration date. If Liz’s journey moved you, carry the lesson into your own practice — and the next time you need to feel like yourself again, put on a song, clear a little space, and dance for you.
© 2026 Dance Mogul Magazine LLC | dancemogul.com | Inspiring Self-Empowerment Through Dance Culture
