MONALISA AMIDAR

Monalisa (she/her) is a Philippine-born, Manila and Mesquite, Texas-raised certified intimacy professional, actor, director, & choreographer who works in both English and Filipino languages, Tagalog and Bisaya. She trained in dance, theater, and international relations at Pepperdine University in Malibu, California, and holds a master's degree in visual and performing arts from the University of Texas at Dallas where she also served as the Founding Director of the Office of Student Volunteerism. 

Focused on supporting and affirming actors of color, Monalisa is trained in Anti-Racist Theatre (Nicole Brewer’s A.R.T.), is a certified Intimacy Captain with Intimacy Coordinators of Color, and certified in Mental Health First Aid. Other areas of expertise include cultural sensitivity, working with minors in academia, children’s theater, and collaborating with arts organizations and nonprofit agencies. No matter the medium, Monalisa’s art is in service of children and women of immigrant and refugee families.

Selected as part of the first cohort of industry professionals to be certified as an Intimacy Choreographer for Live Performance through Intimacy Professionals Association, Monalisa also trained with Intimacy Directors and Coordinators (IDC Professionals) and Theatrical Intimacy Education, and is a member of Southwest Intimacy Professionals, Women in Film Dallas, Filipino American National Historical Society Texas, and is the Founding Artistic Director of Ling Theater, a multidisciplinary, creative storytelling company championing Asian American talents and stories.

Monalisa is a member of the Actors’ Equity Association and is represented by the Kim Dawson Agency. 

Email: monalisa.amidar@gmail.com