LAURA STILWELL
Adult Classes:
Jazz (Advanced Beginner)
Laura Stilwell has had a rewarding career as a performing artist, dance teacher, choreographer and producer.
She began her training in ballet with Jaqueline Schumacher, Nanette Charisse, Finis Jhung and Lawrence Blake, and then trained extensively with Alwin Nikolais, Dance Theater Of Harlem, Ed Mock, Armgard von Bardeleben, Nat Horne, Fred Benjamin, and the Alvin Ailey American Dance Center.
At the age of 20, Laura founded her own lyrical jazz dance company, “Dance Alive!”. She then performed in two professional modern dance companies in the Northwest: V.K. Martin’s Repertory Dance Company, and Joe Orlando Dance Theater. Laura went on to perform in several regional theaters and European tours including, “Evita”, “Me and My Girl”, “West Side Story”, “Pirates Of Penzance”, and “Pacific Overtures”, among others.
Laura began her teaching career in Portland, Oregon, at the Jefferson High School of Performing & Visual Arts where she taught the critically acclaimed, Jefferson Dancers. She then taught lyrical jazz at the Oregon Ballet Theatre School, ‘Stage 7’ in San Diego, and in various community colleges and private studios in the U.S. and abroad.
Laura was the assistant choreographer to Mercedes Ellington for a Duke Ellington revue at Symphony Space, and for the Off-Broadway production of, “Promised Land” at the Lambs Theater.
Since then, Laura has produced, directed and choreographed numerous theatrical productions. Some of her most recent work in NYC was seen at, The Supper Club, The Blue Angel Theater, The 13th Street Repertory Theatre, The USO of Metropolitan New York, and The Rainbow Room at Rockefeller Center. Additional choreography credits include: Atlantic Records, New Line Cinema, BMG Records, New York Youth Theater, and several fashion, convention, and Industrial shows in NYC, Las Vegas and Japan. For more detailed information about Laura’s company, World Dreams Productions, visit her web site at: www.worldreams.net .
Laura continues to offer a fun, fresh and unique approach to her jazz classes. She incorporates various jazz styles into her class, with an emphasis on individual performance, clean technique, stylization, musicality, and breathing. Laura instills confidence, strength, and a feeling of accomplishment in her students, enabling them to evolve into their own self discovery of moving through space in a relaxed, non-competitive atmosphere.