HIstory

Her sophomore year of high school, The Sunflower Project’s Founder Leah Zeiger fell in love with a boy. It was exciting! A seemingly innocent, young romance, their relationship included dinner with each other’s parents, dances, outings with friends, late night texting, and laughter. He played on the baseball team and joined Leah at Young Life events. Leah felt special, for he had chosen HER. Leah’s friends thought she was “so lucky!” to have a boyfriend and viewed the early signs of his intense jealousy as normal and cute. 

Yet, the relationship quickly became unhealthy. He wanted to know where Leah was at all times and sent panicked text messages if she did not respond immediately. There were many multi-hour phone calls where Leah felt she had to beg him to trust her, even though she had not done anything “wrong" in the first place. Constantly assuming she was cheating on him, he demanded proof that she was faithful, became verbally abusive, and deconstructed her sense of safety. For nine months, he manipulated her understanding of love and sought to control her every move. Using sex as a weapon, he exploited her emotionally and physically, yet all the while claimed to love her. At 16 years old, Leah was forced to digest and process the unfathomable trauma of rape.

Leah attempted to break up with him six times, and each time, he became increasingly abusive, verbally, physically, and sexually. When the seventh attempt became final, she anticipated a sense of freedom and healing, yet the horrors were only beginning. His behavior escalated - quickly. He stalked Leah and harassed her online through Facebook and fake texting apps. He broke into her home and threatened the safety of her entire family. 

At first, Leah and her family got a preliminary restraining order. Despite not receiving much information or guidance from LAPD, after Pasadena police took up her case, Leah began to feel supported. She fought for years. Testifying for two hours in her ex’s trial, and another hour in the trial of his accomplice, finally her ex was sentenced to two years in prison.

Leah turned to dance and movement to process this unthinkable trauma. She choreographed a solo Unnamed, which prompted the creation of her celebrated documentary: Untold.