Léa Schneider, Franco-Swiss, is a dancer, choreographer,
actress and dance teacher. → See more
Léa Schneider, Franco-Suisse, est danseuse, chorégraphe, comédienne et professeure de danse.
LEA SCHNEIDER
Education
Léa Schneider, Franco-Swiss, is a dancer, choreographer, actress and dance teacher.
She began dancing at the age of 12 in Grasse, in the south of France, with hip-hop and jazz classes, alongside intensive theatre classes that she had been taking for several years. At the age of 15, she left the south of France for Annecy, where she joined the regional conservatory in jazz dance in a special timetable class at the Lycée Gabriel Fauré, while preparing for her scientific baccalaureate. There she practised jazz, contemporary, ballet and hip-hop notably with the teacher Imad Nefti, and also took amateur courses in opera singing.
After her baccalaureate, she joined the second year of the CFC training programme for performing dancers at the Centre de Formation Professionnelle d’Arts de Genève (CFPA), where she specialised in contemporary dance and creative work (choreography, improvisation). She obtained her federal certificate of capacity in contemporary dance after two years.
In 2020, Léa moved to Zurich to study for the Bachelor’s degree in contemporary dance and street styles at Tanzwerk101. Versatile, she studied many styles there: contemporary dance, modern (Graham), waacking, popping, breaking, house, classical, jazz, voguing, dancehall, locking and krump. She also developed her skills as a choreographer, creating her first group piece, which she then produced professionally at the Openair Cavaglia in Graubünden (August 2023). In July 2023, she completed a one-week internship as part of her studies at the Ballet National de Marseille (LA)HORDE.
Despite her focus on dance, theatre remains a passion that she cultivates in all her training.
At the same time, Léa teaches contemporary dance: first at the Klubschule in Winterthur (2021-2022), then at Li-Danceunit in Solothurn from 2022, where she will coach the group ‘One Soul’ at the Swiss jazz and contemporary championships, winning 3rd place.
Her Bachelor’s thesis focuses on somatic approaches, particularly the Alexander Technique, exploring its impact on body alignment and the prevention of pain related to compensation after injury. She graduated in February 2024 with a Bachelor degree delivered by the University of West London.
After her studies, Léa spent a month in Thailand to deepen her practice of contact improvisation through jams and workshops. She then travelled to Tamil Nadu (south-east India), a region she visits regularly, where she trained and obtained her diploma in Ayurvedic massage.
Professional experience
Returning to Zurich in May 2024, she participates in numerous artistic projects combining dance, theatre and performance, as a choreographer, performer and actress.
In December 2024, Léa moved to Paris to expand her network and explore new artistic paths. She continues to specialise in contemporary dance and develops her practice of Waacking in particular.
Today, Léa lives between Paris and Zurich, creating and collaborating on various dance, theatre, and performance projects in both France and Switzerland.
See the “Projects” section for details on her ongoing and past work.
PORTFOLIO
Choreographer
Music Video – Kaos (2025)
A reprise of the Kaos choreography with One Soul for a video project in collaboration with videographer Guillaume Lechner.
Music: Kaos by Detmolt.
Swiss Jazz & Contemporary Championships (2024)
Choreographer and coach for the One Soul group from Li-Danceunit for the 2024 Swiss championships.
Two choreographies presented:
Kaos (contemporary category)
All That (Broadway jazz category)
Result: 3rd place in the national ranking in adult category.
Vasanakshaya – 8 min, 3 performers (2023)
Created as her final project at Tanzwerk101 (Zurich), Vasanakshaya is Léa’s first choreographed group piece.
It is inspired by Indian spirituality, particularly Advaita Vedanta philosophy – a world familiar to her since childhood.
Having traveled multiple times to South India, Léa aimed to share her own vision of spirituality and the inner path.
“The piece evokes the path to liberation — from conditioning, shadows, and the burdens that trigger reactions in us. A piece that invites reconnection with our true nature.”
Performed by Anya Niklaus, Clara Tullii, and Luna Meylan, the work features a fluid contemporary choreographic language, moving between meditative and intense moments with fast shifts in the movement quality and dynamics.
Premiered in March 2023 at Kulturmarkt in Zurich as part of the diploma showcase, it was later programmed at the Openair Cavaglia Festival in August 2023.
Choreographer & performer
Frei Freier vorm Verlust – Theatre and Dance (2024)
A dance-theatre piece born from a somatic research process: a weekly dance lab over 5 months created by Lovina Koenig with the Ramé Company.
Premiered in Zurich at Zentralwäscherei in September 2024, it blends dance, theatre, and live cello music. Léa performs and co-choreographs alongside Manel Salas and Lovina.
The theme explores the forms we take on and what arises when they dissolve – dancers embody the shadow of two actresses, reflecting their inner worlds.
Surges – Choreographic Duo (2023–2024)
Created with Raquel Arias for the Lamalaghala Festival in Oberwil in Switzerland, this piece blends contemporary dance, voguing and waacking influences, and rave aesthetics. It adapts to various settings and builds in intensity, accompanied by techno music.
Performed at:
Lamalaghala Festival (2023 and revised in 2024)
Openair Cavaglia, Graubünden (2023)
Events by Mettaway Collective in Switzerland and Germany (2023–2024)
Tanzwerk101 Open House, Zurich (2023)
Rave night in Bern organized by Lukas Uetz (2024)
Ex Machina
Coming soon
Duo with Gaëtan Schneider – Geneva (2019)
A fusion of hip-hop, contemporary, and ballet, created together with Gaétan Schneider for a Human Resources Day at Geneva University Hospitals (HUG) on the theme of coexistence.
Performer & dancer
La foule - Gigoter (203)
Participation prévue avec une création en cours de développement.
THX – Music video (2024)
Dancer in the music video THX by the band Molotowbrassorkestar. Directed by Duy Tong in Bern.
The Heel – Tanzfest Winterthur (2023)
Dancer in The Heel, choreographed by Sofie Heller and presented at Am Gleis Theatre as part of Tanzfest in Winterthur, Switzerland.
La Criée – Festival Les Aubes Musicales, Geneva (2022)
Dancer in a performance choreographed by Maroussia Ehrnrooth. Presented at the Bain-des-Paquis, this piece merges live sound poetry and movement in a lakeside morning setting.
Festival Les Baroqueries – Geneva (2019 & 2021)
Léa performed in two creations by Antonio Gomes for the baroque music festival Les Baroqueries:
Apothéosis (2019), set to music by Jean-Philippe Rameau, performed live by the Consonances ensemble and soloists.
Caprice (2021), set to Paganini’s 24 Caprices, played live by violinist Raya Raytcheva.
Theatre & Cinema
Collaborations with Naceo Theatre Company – Paris (2025)
Regular work with the Naceo theatre company as movement coach and choreographer. She contributes to the productions Les Feluettes and Orphelin, presented at the Avignon Festival 2025.
Ex-Machina
Actress, dancer, and choreographer in this interdisciplinary project (more information to come).
Frei Freier vorm Verlust – Ramé Company (2024)
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See “Choreographer and Performer” section above. Léa plays a role at the intersection of dance and theatre with a multidisciplinary team.
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Teaching, coaching, workshops
Teaching
Regular dance class teacher:
Modern Dance – intermediate (teens) & advanced (young adults), Tuesday evenings
Contemporary Dance – advanced level, Thursday evenings
Klubschule Migros – Winterthur (2021–2022)
Regular contemporary dance teacher for beginner adults, Tuesday evenings.
Substitute Teaching & School Workshops
Léa substitutes for dance classes in various schools across Switzerland and France.
She also offers dance workshops in primary and middle schools.
Coaching
Naceo Theatre Company – Paris (2025)
Movement coach for the theatre company Naceo.
Movement coach for the piece Les Feluettes and choreographed for the opening of Orphelin.
Both pieces will be performed at the Avignon Festival in July 2025.
Swiss Championships – One Soul (2024)
Choreographer and coach for One Soul (see above).
Artistic and technical guidance of the group up to the national competition.
Workshops
Corporate Dance Workshops & Animations
She leads participative dance sessions during corporate events, featuring short duo performances and dance workshops that culminate in flash-mob style choreographies.
Improvisation Workshops
She animates dance improvisation workshops for festivals, encouraging experimentation and connection with oneself and others.
Workshop Assistant & Organizer
She organizes a contact improvisation workshop at Dynamo Zürich for international teacher Alessandro Rivellino, where she also was assistant.
Other projects & background
Bachelor Thesis
Making Space for a Better Use of Yourself, research project conducted as part of her studies at Tanzwerk101
→ Go to pdf
Other Training
Versatile and curious, Léa has also trained in complementary fields:
Ayurvedic Massage
Waitress / Barista / Bartending
Event Hosting
