I began dancing around New Year’s Day 2000 and was immediately hooked on Swing. Over the next few months, my co-workers became accustomed to a haggard-looking Laura every Thursday morning due to a late night of dancing on Wednesday. Yet, it was at least another 6 months of floundering around the dance floor before I finally took a structured lesson. During that one hour, I learned how far I really had to go in Lindy Hop!

Once I figured out which foot goes where, I began traveling to different Lindy Exchanges. Chicago was my most frequent destination though I have also danced in Pittsburgh, Cleveland, Detroit, Oklahoma City, Austin, Houston, and L.A.

In 2001 I took a private lesson from Chris Gehant and eventually began teaching with him in St. Louis and Oklahoma.

Since moving to Colorado in March 2003, I have enjoyed the frequent opportunities to take workshops with the likes of Steven & Virginie, Paul & Sharon, Sylvia Sykes, Skye Humphries, Nina Gilkenson, Peter Strom, Caitlin George, and many other wonderful instructors at both the local and national level and I always encourage my students to do the same whenever they can.

In my teaching philosophy, I emphasize not only connection with one’s dance partner, but connection with one’s own body and understanding the mechanics of those connections. I strive to share my love of Lindy Hop with my students and I encourage them to learn as much as they can both in the classroom and on the dance floor.

When I’m not teaching dance, I’m practicing or teaching yoga, knitting, running, watching Lost, enjoying being married, or working on my own dancing.