Today we’d like to introduce you to Laura Macy.
Hi Laura, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I’m a 23-year-old creative from Liverpool (UK), and I’ve always been involved in the arts in some way! As a seven-year-old, I started piano lessons, and I performed at every opportunity I could. I used to give mini recitals to the residents of the home that my grandparents lived in and I’d perform at every school event I could. At 14 years old, I started taking dance classes at the Marilyn Jones Dance Centre and completely fell in love with dance. I studied dance, performing arts, and music throughout school and when I was 17, I started auditioning for art schools across the country. I was offered a place at Paul McCartney’s school (The Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts), where I trained professionally for three years and gained a Bachelor’s degree in dance. Although I had chosen to continue my studies in dance rather than music, I feel really lucky that I was still able to work professionally as a pianist alongside my studies; playing for weddings, restaurants, and other function gigs. After I finished my professional training, I graduated into a pandemic where there were little auditions and opportunities to work as a dancer, so I taught piano online for a while and continued to play for events until the dance industry started to get back on its feet again. I feel really lucky to say that during the last year, I’ve been able to follow all of my passions and work professionally as a dancer, pianist, choreographer, and director.
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 visited LA a couple of times in 2022 and fell in love with the place. I’d danced for a couple of projects while out here, met some incredible people, and knew it was the place I wanted to be. I was planning to return to LA in March 2023 for a six-month period to work on getting an O-1 visa and was excited at the prospect of being able to live and work in LA for a longer period of time. A few weeks before I was due to fly out, I fell badly out of a turn at an audition and broke my kneecap in half. I was told by doctors that I would potentially have to have screws drilled into my kneecap and if that was the case, it could end my career as a professional dancer.
I was seen by multiple doctors who all gave different opinions on if I should have surgery or not, and I remember feeling completely overwhelmed and confused at which option would give me the best fighting chance at a full recovery. My entire world felt like it was falling apart. Trying to not let my thoughts go to a dark place, I started researching dance charities in the UK that might be able to help. I reached out to a charity called The Dance Again Foundation, who made a huge difference to my recovery. They signposted me to a dance specialist whose opinion I could trust and they helped me to fill out all of the confusing paperwork and x-ray requests to get all of the information to the right people. Their knowledge and experience in the dance side of the medical industry gave me someone to trust when I was surrounded by so many conflicting opinions and they also signposted me to funds that I could apply for to support my recovery, because as a self-employed artist unable to work, I was feeling very anxious about my financial situation.
My doctors and I came to the decision to let the knee heal without surgery, and with great physio and a lot of determination, I’m very grateful to say my knee recovered fully and I’m back dancing again. To raise awareness for the charity that helped me, I choreographed and directed a concept video about my story in the hope that other dancers can reach out to them too in the future. One of my videographer friends from LA actually flew out to Liverpool to shoot it, so the video is extra special to me for many reasons: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oTewwG2ZTcs
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?
At the moment, I’m back in the States training, creating and performing again. I’m still working towards my visa but now I make sure I appreciate every minute that I’m able to dance and do what I love. I’m grateful to say I managed to keep up both of my passions and I’m still working as both a dancer and musician. Back at home in Liverpool, I have my own classes and direct concept videos which involve local dancers and creators.
I’m proud to say I’m not just another dancer: I love bringing together multiple aspects of the creative industry to bring a story to life! I love creating projects where I can collaborate with people who are passionate about what they do and where I can connect a group of people together who can learn and grow from each other. One of my recent projects was actually shared by Rita Ora, so I feel especially proud that my work has developed from creating video stars as a 12-year-old to being taken recognized and taken seriously as an artist, haha!
I’ve attached a few links to some of my work:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tu052BLuzIM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yUxgbSRFD_g
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3r3vRCyvXt0
Who else deserves credit in your story?
I feel lucky to say I’ve had lots of people who have supported me on my journey as a dancer and creator; from my parents, family, and friends to my school teachers and my own students. But there’s one person in particular who has made a huge difference to my career that deserves credit, and that’s Vince Coconato (Coco) of Bob’s Dance Shop.
I met him Coco back in the UK in 2021 when we were both dancing on a job for the Amazon Prime Red Carpet Premiere of Everybody’s Talking’ Bout Jamie. I was in awe of him and everything he represented. After spending years striving for perfection in training and being rejected from lots of auditions, having someone be so inclusive and encouraging of individuality, his approach to working in the dance world was so different and refreshing. I could tell he absolutely loved what he did. He told me if I ever wanted to come out to LA that he’d make sure I was safe and didn’t feel alone there, and I think that’s what gave me the courage as a 21 year do my first solo trip across the world. Alongside the other ‘Bobs’ (members of Bob’s Dance Shop: Lito, Kameron, and Lucas), they looked out for me during my time in LA, picking me up from the airport, taking me out for dinner, and taking class with me! That trip was life-changing, it opened my eyes to a whole other world of dance, and I learned so much during my time there. I met many incredible people and life-long friends and returned to the UK feeling inspired. I flew out to LA again later that year, and at this point I had directed my first concept video project. Having seen my work and seen potential in me, Coco asked me to direct and choreograph a video for his company ‘Bob’s Dance Shop’, giving me a platform to show my work to a wider audience and connect with creatives that would open up so many doors for me in the future. Having his trust made me believe in myself and my abilities, and since then he has continued to support me and my journey as an artist, helping me with my visa application, always making sure I have a place to stay, getting me a guest list tickets to his shows, giving me opportunities to perform with his company and sharing advice about developing as an artist. Even though he’s incredibly successful and always booked, I feel very lucky that he always makes time for me.
Pricing:
- I teach piano privately (both online and in person), and my prices are $30 (30 mins), $45 (45 mins) and $50 (60 mins)
Contact Info:
- Website: https://encoremusicians.com/Laura-Watson
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lauramacy/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGU92oWUztkuEZVbHHYUFvA
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@laura_macy/video/7209998679179021574?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc&web_id=7276221428831225377
Image Credits
Erin Sullivan The Portfolio People (Isabella Rubin)
