Meet Laura Porter of Bloom School of Music and Dance (brick and mortar) and non profit, Bloom Arts Foundation

Today we’d like to introduce you to Laura Porter.

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I’ve always had a deep desire to connect with people. I find most folks pretty fascinating! That impulse probably led me to songwriting early on—I wanted to express myself in ways that might resonate with others. That same drive eventually led me to teaching, working with children, and co-founding two arts education organizations.

When I moved to Los Angeles in 2001, I was a saxophonist who’d just landed a record deal as a singer/songwriter. I thought I’d “made it!” But like so many artists discover, the real journey was just beginning. I started teaching piano—mostly because schools weren’t offering band or orchestra—and I noticed something right away: kids struggled with rhythm, improvisation, and creativity. They didn’t feel confident making music their own.
Then I sat in on an early childhood music and movement class. I thought it was adorable—but I didn’t quite understand the purpose. That’s when Linda Silva, Director of Musical Beginnings, explained what was happening in the brain. In just two sentences, she laid out the neuroscience of music education—and I was hooked. From that moment on, I dove into early childhood music and movement, got certified in Orff Schulwerk, studied Gordon’s Music Learning Theory, and never looked back.

In 2008, my husband Dave and I started Bloom School of Music in Eagle Rock. Traditional music schools felt antiquated to us. We wanted to do music education differently—starting with babies and toddlers, meeting each child where they are, and nurturing creativity and joy from the start. We added dance in 2012, and today over 1,000 families walk through our doors each week.

In 2020, I co-founded Bloom Arts Foundation with Radhika Fliegel. Our nonprofit brings music and movement/dance classes into public schools during the school day so every child—not just the ones who can pay for it or stay after school—gets access. We’ve reached over 20,000 students across LAUSD, Pasadena Unified, and Glendale Unified.

In 2023, we launched Futures in Tune, a global collaboration connecting students in LA, South Africa, and India through rhythm and movement. In 2025–26, we’re adding Zambia. These kids are learning from one another, co-creating, and finding joy and a sense of belonging across borders.

At the heart of it all is rhythm. I believe it is the most important of it all. It’s what makes us human. I believe that if every child grows up feeling the pulse/beat—in their body, in their classroom, in their community—we can build a more connected, creative, and compassionate world.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
This question makes me laugh out loud. Obstacles? So many. Sometimes I wonder—if I had known what was ahead, would I have jumped?
Our biggest challenge early on? We weren’t business people. I’d never had a “real job” outside of waiting tables at my family’s diner. I made my living as a saxophonist, and the only “business” I knew was making sure you got paid after the gig.

The original idea was simple: hire a few teachers so their lessons help cover the rent. When parents paid us, we’d keep the full check. Brilliant, right? But the school grew quickly. We struck a chord (literally and figuratively) with families in Eagle Rock, and suddenly we needed systems, staff, scheduling software, and marketing. Thankfully, we had joined a trade group for music school owners, and we started learning fast.
Fast forward to today: we have an incredible arts admin team, the finest educators in the city, and a constant drive to ask, “How can we do this better?”

When our twins were born in 2011, everything changed. I gained a whole new empathy for families. I also realized we couldn’t teach full-time anymore—we had to grow the business instead of just working in it.

When Bloom Arts Foundation launched, I took what we’d learned at the school and partnered wisely. My co-founder, Radhika Fliegel, is brilliant in every way. Together, we scaled a program that could meet the needs of public schools and attract top-tier teaching artists who shared our mission.
One of our biggest ongoing challenges—at both the school and the foundation—is making sure teachers feel supported and celebrated. Arts educators often work in isolation. No one sees the moment a group of second graders nails a three-part canon or when every kid in hip-hop hits the downbeat together. That’s mastery. That’s magic. And it matters.

At the end of the day, the biggest challenge isn’t external. It’s staying open. Keep learning. Keep reflecting. Keep getting better. That mindset has helped both Bloom School and Bloom Arts Foundation grow—and learn from each other in powerful ways. At this point, the street cred flows both directions.

As you know, we’re big fans of Bloom School of Music and Dance (brick and mortar) and non profit, Bloom Arts Foundation. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
We started Bloom School of Music and Dance in Eagle Rock 17 years ago, and it’s become a vibrant creative hub for families in Northeast LA. We welcome children as young as 3 or 4 months old (free for first 4 months of life) —babies and toddlers come with their grownups and grow into confident young musicians and dancers. We offer group music classes, private lessons, rock bands, and dance styles from creative movement to ballet, tap, jazz, and hip-hop. Over 1,000 families come through Bloom every week! What sets us apart is our joyful, inclusive vibe—and our mission to give kids the tools and inspiration to carry music and dance into adulthood.

Then in 2020, we launched Bloom Arts Foundation—a nonprofit that brings music and dance education into under-resourced schools across Los Angeles and beyond. We’ve reached over 20,000 students across more than 40 partner schools with a focus on TK–6th grade. Our goal? To make sure every child gets to feel the joy of creating, collaborating, and expressing themselves through the arts—no matter their background.

One of our proudest programs is Futures in Tune—a global arts exchange connecting elementary students in LA, South Africa, and India through rhythm, movement, and shared creativity. These kids are learning from one another, creating original work, and building empathy across continents. It’s powerful stuff.

Check us out, book a trial class and start and amazing journey in music/dance and become a monthly supporter and help us expand our reach:
🎵 bloomschoolofmusicanddance.com
🌍 bloomartsfoundation.org

Can you share something surprising about yourself?
People are always surprised to learn I used to make my living as a saxophonist—playing with Aretha Franklin, The Temptations, old school R&B, funk and even the Cleveland Orchestra. One week it was Carnegie Hall, the next it was soul music legends. Very different worlds, but one thing stayed the same: groove.
I’m kind of obsessed with rhythm. I truly believe if more people felt it and could express it (tap or move to the beat) the world would be a kinder, more connected place. Rhythm is about being present. It’s in how we walk, talk, listen, and relate. It’s the ultimate unifier. I see you, I feel you.

At Bloom School Music and Dance and at Bloom Arts Foundation, groove is at the absolute center of everything we do. It all starts with the body! With rhythm, there is improvement in emotional regulation, cognitive abilities, sense of balance, motor skills, language acquisition. And maybe… world peace? (Seriously, imagine if world leaders had to play music together before a summit.)

Pricing:

• https://www.bloomschoolofmusicanddance.com/book-a-trial/
• https://www.bloomartsfoundation.org/programs

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.bloomschoolofmusicanddance.com https://www.bloomartsfoundation.org
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bloomschoolofmusicanddance/ https://www.instagram.com/bloomartsfoundation/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bloomschoolofmusicanddance https://www.facebook.com/BloomArtsFoundation
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laura-porter-212a579
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@BloomArtsFoundation