Biography
Lauren Putty, as an emerging choreographer and performing artist, has gained national recognition from the 2008 American Dance Guild and 2005 Élan Awards. Most recently, Lauren was a member of Parsons Dance Company. She has performed with various companies such as Urban Bush Woman and Washington Reflections. Lauren’s dancing has been described as “music in motion” by the judges of Dance Masters of America. Audiences have been brought to their feet and to tears by her choreography. Lauren is able to accomplish this through her original movement style, which connects the human spirit with aesthetic physical beauty.
Lauren, born in Baltimore, began her dance training at Towson University Children’s Dance Division at age 4 until she was 17. She also received extensive training at her high school, Carver Center for Arts and Technology. Lauren was told by one of her earlier teachers that if she stretched for an hour every night, she would be a great dancer. Ten years and counting she still stretches every night. This type of commitment and dedication carried her throughout high school, giving her the privilege of traveling the east coast training in prestigious programs such as The Peabody Conservatory Baltimore, The Dance Theater of Harlem Residency in D.C., and The Juilliard School Summer Intensive in New York . In her senior year, she became the honorary recipient of the Maryland Distinguished Scholar award for college. Lauren decided to further her education at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia ,as a modern dance major. She had the opportunity to study under the tutelage of teachers such as Jennifer Binford (Graham company) and Kim Bears-Bailey (Philadanco); as well as perform works by Milton Myers and Christopher Huggins. When Lauren graduated with her BFA, she left as a recipient of the UArts Choreography Prize and Outstanding Performance in Modern Dance Award.
Lauren, as a versatile performer, has been steadily building her list of credentials. She performed with the Moscow Russian Ballet in “The Nutcracker” for three years. She has danced in the Opera Company of Philadelphia ’s production of “Aida” and “Rigoletto.” She was a member of Washington Reflections Dance company in DC, a guest performer with the Amy Marshall Dance Company and has also been featured with Philadanco in their annual “Danco on Danco” showcase. She was even a tap dancer in an industrial for the 2007 “Commerce Bank Wow Awards.” In the past two years, she has been an apprentice with Urban Bush Women, a principal dancer/rehearsal director for the Rebecca Davis Dance Company and a member of Waheed Works in Philadelphia . Her televisin and film credits include the short film, "Interpersonal Exopolitics" and the music video, "ShowMeWhatUGot" with Pareece.
Lauren featured her choreography in the 2005 Élan Awards in New York . Susan Stroman, the honoree of the evening, gave accolades to Lauren’s choreography, commenting that it was, “powerful and promising”. She choreographed on the Washington Reflections Dance Company, won the “Individual Artist Fellowship Grant” of Baltimore for choreography; choreographs award-winning competition dances that compete nationwide, and has had her work showcased in the 2008 American Dance Guild Festival. Most recently, her piece, "Hide" premiered on Ballet X at the Wilma Theater in April 2010. Through her artistry, Lauren hopes to spiritually connect those who watch her work and inspire them to love the art of dance.
