28/07/2025
Lizanne McAdams-Graham has over 40 years experience as a professional dancer and dance educator and has devoted her entire life to the arts. She began training at the age of 3 under the direction of her late mother, Lorraine McAdams, legendary Director and Founder of the National Ballet of New Jersey. In her youth she was a full year scholarship student to Joffrey Ballet NYC, Harkness House for Ballet Arts NYC, Pennsylvania Ballet, and Choreography NARB workshops. She joined the Croation National Ballet and Opera Theatre in Zagreb, in the former Yugoslavia at the age of 17 dancing principal and leading roles in Nutcracker, Coppelia, Giselle, Swan Lake, Serenade, Romeo & Juliet, Sleeping Beauty and Firebird, Graduation Ball, Carmina Burana, Bolero and Cinderella.
She has studied with Finus Yhung, David Howard, John Prince, Maria Vegh, Basil Thompson, Michael Smuin, Alonzo King, Maggie Black and Robert Blankshine, Kristina Elliot,Yehuda Maor, Loyce Holton, and Pavel Rotaru. Mid career Ms. McAdams-Graham joined the renowned ODC/Dance, exploring contemporary dance, completing world tours, with residency at Jacobs Pillow, Joyce Theater, City Center, Lincoln Center in NYC, and Kennedy Center in D.C. She has guest appeared for Los Angeles, Santa Fe, Pittsburgh, and San Francisco Opera Ballet Companies in “Faust”, “Die Fledermaus”, “La Traviata” “Orfeo Ed Euridice” and “Aida” and appeared on the PBS televised production of “Dance in America”.
Ms. McAdams served on the dance faculty for Dance Alloy at Carnegie-Mellon University, Point Park University, Pittsburgh Youth Ballet, Alonzo King LINES Dance Center, Dance Institute and Ballet Arts of Austin. She has set major ballets on Charleston Ballet, Ithaca Ballet and Walnut Hill School for the Arts. She’s conducted company class for Boulder Ballet, Cleo Parker Robinson, David Taylor Zikir Dance Ensemble, and Wonderbound. She was ballet mistress for multiple companies.
Another illustrious Sweatshop faculty member, her diverse background and dedication to excellence gives all of our students a leading edge. We are so proud of the work she does with our dancers and grateful to have her on board year-round! ❤️🔥🦁