Our Story

Established in 1997, the Strike Anywhere Performance Ensemble is an interdisciplinary collective of world-class improvising jazz musicians, dancers, designers and actors in NYC.

The Ensemble works at the crossroads of activism, arts and social justice, creating provocative performances and innovative education programs that promote empathy, creativity and civic engagement.

PHOTO: Amanda Hinkle-Wallace

Leese Walker, Founder & Artistic Director  

Strike Anywhere's Founding Artistic Director, Leese Walker, is an interdisciplinary artist, director, and producer. A core member of the Walter Thompson Orchestra, she co-teaches the only U.S. Soundpainting certification course with its inventor and has received the BAX Arts Educator Award, Arts Presenters Emerging Leaders Scholarship, and the APPEX Fellowship in Bali.

PHOTO: Amanda Hinkle-Wallace

SA’s artistic, community and educational programs employ an egalitarian and inclusive methodology; participants collectively explore and create original work. Strike Anywhere has performed and taught in over 200 venues in 16 states and 8 countries.

PHOTO: Guillaume LeBaube

Strike Anywhere is the preeminent theatre company in the United States practicing Soundpainting, a universal sign-language developed by composer Walter Thompson for live composition with improvisers.

PHOTO: Guillaume LeBaube

Strike Anywhere tours extensively. Internationally SA has been presented at festivals and conferences in Indonesia, France, Spain, Italy & England.

The company has performed multiple residencies at Lieux Publics (Marseille, Fr), Le POLAU-pôle arts & urbanisme (France), and appeared at dozens of venues including:

  • Het Nationale Theater (The Hague, Netherlands)

  • Evento Festival (Bordeaux, France)

  • Lieux Publics (Marseille, France)

  • Auditori Enric Granados (Spain)

  • Le Triton (Paris, France)

  • La Machine Pneumatique (Marseille, France)

  • Auditori Municipal (Aielo de Malferit, Spain)

  • La Pléiade (La Riche, France)

  • Centre de Création Musicale Voce (Corsica)

  • Pengosekan (Bali, Indonesia)

  • La Guinguette (Tours, France)

  • Petit Faucheux (Tours, France)

International Venues

  • McCarter Theater Center (NJ)

  • Hopkins Center for the Arts (NH)

  • Zoellner Arts Center (PA)

  • The Long Center for the Performing Arts (TX)

  • Stateside at the Paramount (TX)

  • Capitol Center for the Arts (NH)

  • Chandler Center for the Arts (VT)

  • Goethe Institut (Washington DC)

  • Theatre Building Chicago (IL)

  • Magdalena Festival (RI)

  • KO Festival of Performance (MA)

  • Network of Ensemble Theatres Festival (HI, MA, ME, NC & CA)

  • Fury Factory Festival (CA)

National Venues

  • Brooklyn Academy of Music

  • Lincoln Center Theater

  • American Airlines Theater

  • P.S. 122

  • The Irondale Center

  • The Highline

  • University Settlement

  • Theatre at St. Clements

  • HERE Arts Center

  • Mark Morris Dance Center

  • Theater for the New City

  • B.R.I.C.

  • North American Cultural Laboratory

  • Lycée Français de New York

  • Dixon Place

  • The Zipper Theater

NY Venues

  • Royal Central School of Speech and Drama (UK)

  • Conservatorio di Milano (Italy)

  • Université de Tours (France)

  • Escuela Municipal de Musica y Danza de Alcobendas (Spain)

  • Dartmouth College (NH)

  • Bucknell University (PA)

  • Brown University (RI)

  • Lehigh University (PA)

  • Penn State (PA)

  • Trinity College (CT)

  • Rutgers University (NJ)

  • Drew University (NJ)

  • Drexel University (PA)

  • Hood College (MD)

  • Muhlenberg College (PA)

  • Whitworth University (WA)

  • N.Y.U. Tisch School of the Arts (NY)

  • City University (NY)

  • Actor’s Studio Drama School (NY)

  • Circle in the Square Theater School (NY)

Educational Venues

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Our productions

We apply concepts from American jazz to interdisciplinary improvisations to create performances that are engaging and alive, featuring live music, physical theater, dance and Soundpainting, a universal sign-language.

Our people

We are an interdisciplinary collective of world-class improvising jazz musicians, dancers and actors in NYC creating provocative performances and innovative education programs that promote empathy, creativity and civic engagement.