Laura Elliott

Dance Education: 8 years a student at CAC studying R.A.D ballet, jazz and modern. Further training with Steven Wynn at Dance Ad Deum in Texas, Bill Wade at Inlet Dance Theatre in Ohio, and Rob Kitsos, Megan Walker-Straight, Marla Eist and Judith Gary at the Simon Fraser University Contemporary Dance Program in Vancouver. Acrobatique certification achieved.

Professional Experience:  2012 CGMAs – choreographer. MAC makeup campaign 2014 – dancer

Why I love teaching: I love the journey with the students. Where we start in September and where we end up in June as teacher/student, co-collaborators, artists and people can be a huge leap made up of a thousand tiny steps and I love taking each of those steps together.

How dance has changed my outlook on life: Dance has made me see the impossible as possible. I never had the ideal legs and feet for dance and I started my “serious” training not until I graduated highschool. But I love dance with all my heart and chose to pursue it even though my body and my age were a big roadblock. I did everything I wanted to with dance and surprised myself the most. Now nothing feels “impossible”. If I want something, I go for it.

Advice: A teacher once said to me, after I told them I “couldn’t” do a higher attitude position in ballet class “well, if that’s all you think you can do, then that’s all it’ll ever be”. She helped me realize the ways I could take myself out of my best and that there is value in striving for more even if I’m not sure I can achieve it. That’s the last day I told myself I couldn’t do something I wanted to do.

Favourite choreographers: Of the “classics” — Martha Graham, Merce Cunningham, Anna Halprin, Alvin Ailey. Of the “newer” school — Édouard Lock and Mark Fucik

First Dance Performance: Age 4, Baby ballet. I was a little soldier. My favourite part was getting to wear red lipstick and being on stage with an older dancer in a tu-tu. I felt it made me more advanced by association, haha!

Laura Elliott has been studying dance at Creator’s Arts Centre since 1999 and in her 18 years here has trained as a teacher, served on the Board of Directors and functioned as the Executive Director. From 2006-2010, Laura also expanded her training under many amazing dance professionals including Steven Wynn at Dance Ad Deum in Texas, Bill Wade at Inlet Dance Theatre in Ohio, and Rob Kitsos, Megan Walker-Straight, Marla Eist and Judith Gary at the Simon Fraser University Contemporary Dance Program in Vancouver.

With a passion to see dance and the arts used as a vehicle for communication, connection and personal growth, Laura has spent the last 10 years teaching dance workshops throughout Canada, leading dance-mentorship groups for teens, and collaborating with community programs such as the “Cool Arts” program, Sunshine Farms and the Parkinson Rec Centre to bring dance and art opportunities to adults living with disabilities. A member of the Arts Council of the Central Okanagan, Laura is actively involved in promoting the growth and sustainability of the local arts community.

A strong believer in the vision and mission of Creator’s Arts Centre, Laura seeks to assist CAC in continuing to be a place of excellence, community and creativity.