Conversations with Lauren Slack

Today we’d like to introduce you to Lauren Slack.

Hi Lauren, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
My first class I ever took was a combo class that included jazz and ballet combined, I was around the age of 3. I was an extremely shy kid, for the first few months I was learning how to dance, I had to either have my mom sit in the corner of my dance class or watch in the window so I can see her at all times.

Around the age of 10, I really started to seek more opportunities to be onstage more than just waiting for our end of the year for our annual recitals. That’s when I was introduced to competitive dance. It wasn’t until around high school when I feel like I truly stepped into myself as a dancer. I ended up changing schools after my freshman year so I could get even more training in during school hours. The school I attended provided a range of different classes but the one that really created a new and unexpected path of interest for me was their dance choreography course.

After high school, I moved to Los Angeles to pursue a professional dance career, I joined a contemporary company “MASH UP” and was able to travel and train with incredible artists. I realized while living in L.A. and trying to “make it” out there that I was loosing my drive for being a performer, it didn’t excite me as much as creating the movement myself. I had been ignoring my deep desire to be a choreographer so I decided to move back home to Orange County, and got a job at a local dance studio in my area. For nearly 10 years, I learned how to work with all levels and create on young dancers ranging from all ages. I was heavily involved in choreographing competition pieces for my studios and within this time is where I began feeling more and more confident in myself as a choreographer. The more critiques from the judges, the better. I was able to learn how to not take it personal, but as a challenge to get the pieces and dancers to a place that really felt more like you were watching something thoughtful than just another competition dance you’d see onstage.

Fast forward to now, I finally feel like I found my choreographic voice. Once I started to really stay consistent with posting my work online, I started to receive inquiries for my work outside of my full time teaching jobs. This resulted in me being able to work with other dancers across the county and connect with some of my own personal choreographers that I look up to. Along the way, I was also asked to join a dance convention that travels internationally, which has been such a beautiful and fulfilling experience. Im still learning about myself as I go. I believe we never really stop learning ever, which is what keeps me going, and keeps me humble, and most importantly what drives me to keep creating is staying curious. My goals for the future is to be able to be a movement director for Movies, Tv, Music Videos, Tours, etc. For now, I am beyond grateful and can’t believe sometimes this is what I get to do for “work” every single day.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I think with every career there’s ups and downs. A big one for me was being able to say no to people. I have a hard time with this due to me thinking I may not get this opportunity again, or I’ll upset or disappoint the other person. But I’ve learned if it doesn’t align with you or feel right, simply just don’t do it. trust your gut. .

Another struggle for me has been to not spread myself too thin, I think this goes in tandem with my previous statement, which is sometimes turning things down so you can be your best self for the things you committed to already when you show up for other people.

Learning how to fill my cup up with stuff outside of teaching is also something that is a non negotiable for me as I enter this new year. I find it fuels my creativity and makes me feel reconnected to my body and mind.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I think my biggest super power throughout my teaching journey is to be able to connect with people and meet them where they’re at that day. I am a people person, which has always been a surprise to me due to my shyness as a child. I think that has a lot to do with me knowing what I have to offer has value.
its cheesy….but I always tell myself, if I believe in myself, if I like it, nothing else matters.

Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
Growing up I was a shy kid, but also charismatic depending on the person or people I was around. I was constantly day dreaming or making up dances in my room. Hanging up sheets as curtains, grabbing any sort of clothing I thought was cool in my mom’s closet to make it my costume. At one point when my dad purchased a stereo that could play CD’s, from that moment on I would take whatever popular album we had at the time and would go into my garage for hours and create dances or pretend I was performing amongst thousands of people. In my head in those moments, I was the next Britney Spears.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/slackerchoreo/

Image Credits
Photo Credits:
Claudio Robles
REVOLT Dance Intensive
Amy Arey