Raphaelle Ziemba began her dance journey at age four at the Academy of Movement and Music in Oak Park, Illinois, and went on to train at Interlochen Arts Academy and SUNY Purchase, where she earned a BFA in Dance Performance. She furthered her studies with a Master of Arts in Art Education from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (2013), focusing on community-based arts and cultural programming.
Over her career, Ziemba has performed, choreographed, and led in a range of arts organizations. She has contributed significantly to MOMENTA and served as soloist, resident choreographer, and Associate Artistic Director at Cerqua Rivera Dance Theatre before joining Audience Architects in Chicago as Community Engagement Manager.
Ziemba has participated in the Annenberg Alchemy Tech program (2019) and the Coro Women in Leadership Fall Cohort (2022), and in 2026 earned the Center for Nonprofit Management’s Nonprofit Management Certification, further strengthening her expertise in leadership, community engagement, nonprofit management, and arts administration. She currently serves as Managing Director of Heidi Duckler Dance (HDD) and as Co-Founder of the Los Angeles Dance Workers Coalition (LADWC), spearheading initiatives that foster creative collaboration and equitable access to the arts.
During her tenure at HDD, Ziemba has produced more than 80 productions, advancing the company’s mission of innovation, inclusion, and community engagement. Her work is driven by a passion for transforming creative vision into impactful public experiences through strategic leadership, collaborative partnerships, and thoughtful cultural programming that expands access to the arts.
Contact
raphaelle@heididuckler.org
213-373-0366
