Today we’d like to introduce you to Lauren Taft.
So, before we jump into specific questions, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I started dancing at the age of 3 at a local studio called The Movement Center in Columbus, Ohio. There I was a competition dance kid for 14 years. I trained in all styles but mainly Ballet, Jazz and Tap, and would travel to New York, LA, and Chicago for conventions and classes. After graduating high school, I moved to LA and did a year-long work study program at Edge Performing Arts Center, then soon after signed with my first dance agency. The first big job I landed was dancing for the World Expo in Shanghai. I was fortunate enough to work with director JoAnn Jansen and choreographers Alison Faulk, Teresa Espinosa, and Becca Sweitzer, who continued to help me through my career over the following years. Now it’s almost ten years later, and I’ve danced for artists, in videos, commercials and awards shows. I’ve been very fortunate in my career to experience a lot of travel and found such a love for seeing the world along the way.
So I’m currently in Brisbane to continue performing for a company on the Gold Coast, as well as teaching at professional studios in the city until the end of this year.
Has it been a smooth road?
LA is a wonderful place, but nothing about being a kid moving to a huge city to pursue their dreams is easy. It was definitely challenging having to grow up so fast and figure out how to cook my own meals, make enough money, and keep myself disciplined to continue training. All of my friends graduated and were back home going to college, and I had to be a self-sufficient adult in a world of new faces and a LOT of competition. Fortunately for me, I had it easy and already had a few friends that had been living in LA to help show me the ropes. If it weren’t for them, who I now consider family, I’m sure the journey would’ve been much more difficult! And the struggles always continue in the dance industry here. Image is such a major role, networking plays a huge part, and being “the best” in a room with hundreds of other girls who are just as good if not better than you, is always hard. Eventually, you learn to separate your love and passion from your “work” and how many jobs you book. The city can be very defeating at times, but as long as you remember why you’re here, and still have that love for it in your heart, it can be very inspiring.
Please tell our readers more, for example, what you’re most proud of and what sets you apart from others.
I am a professional dancer. I have training in Jazz, Tap, Ballet, Hip-Hip, Salsa, Lyrical/Contemporary, and burlesque. Honestly, I don’t have one particular favorite style. I think it’s the most beneficial to be versatile in the industry so that you can work more different types of jobs. I’m most proud of the success I’ve had in LA while continuing to love the art of dance and not let any of the politics of the industry take anything away from that success, which can be tricky! Once you work a great job, there can be a window where not much is happening and you start to feel unsuccessful, so keeping the strength and genuine love for what I do seems like an even bigger accomplishment. What sets me apart from others is that I don’t often get discouraged with new challenges in dance. If there’s a new style I’m learning or new choreographer I’m not used to taking class from, I don’t let the difficulty of that unfamiliar movement lesson my spirit. I love learning new things in dance and art, and I strive to be better in all aspects of it.
Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and the least?
I love the diversity LA has to offer. It always makes life interesting; no two people are the same. Individuality is so celebrated here. It’s so inspiring to see so many different people who are so talented, come to the same place to thrive and grow. I love meeting people here; everyone has an interesting story to tell why their here and what they hope to accomplish. Everyone is such a dreamer; it creates a lot of drive and surrounds you with creativity. However, that can get a little overwhelming. I definitely wouldn’t recommend it if you wish to live a more “simple life.” But I think everyone who lives in this city has an understanding with one another. It’s where people come to find themselves or what they’re passionate about. And even though that can be a little challenging to constantly be around, it makes it all worth it knowing that everyone is just trying to do what makes their hearts the happiest.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laurentaft/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/laurentaftdance/
Image Credit:
Steven Busby, Tyler Miles, Wes Klain, Emily Chamberlain
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