Dean of Campers

7th summer in 2011

Administration, Dance

Lauren is happy to be returning to Camp Ballibay for her seventh summer this year. Over the past six years, Lauren has been incredibly fortunate to work at Camp Ballibay in various capacities. She began in 2005 as a dance instructor and cabin counselor and is honored to have participated in the administrative end of camp over the last three years, starting as an associate dean and eventually reaching her current titles. She's proud to be working directly with John and Kristin as the Dean of Campers to make this the best experience available for all the campers. As a member of the Dance Staff, Lauren has taught all the genres available at camp, but can most often be found teaching tap, ballet, hip hop, and jazz. Over the past six summers Lauren has choreographed numerous pieces for the various dance shows, musicals, and camper cabarets that happen every session. She's choreographed for all of the dance concerts and choreographed and taught for the Dance Intensive while at Ballibay. Lauren is also proud to have created several dance films, including Rehearsal Space, Technicalities, and Earth with Ballibay campers.

Lauren is a firm believer that every one can dance, and encourages every camper to try just once. She loves working with children and and is anxiously awaiting another great summer working with campers.

Lauren began her dancing career at two and a half at the Lois Allen School of Dance where she studied ballet, tap, jazz and pointe until she was eighteen.

From 2001 to 2005 Lauren attended DeSales University and earned her BA in Dance. Lauren was an active part of the department before graduating Magna Cum Laude in 2005: she was a member of and in her senior year ran the University's Dance Team, she was a member, Vice-President, and President of their chapter of XTE: the National Dance Honor Society, she danced with and for many well known teachers and choreographers, as well as took advantage of many choreographic and performance opportunities. All four years Lauren was a teacher for the University's local community dance program: The Conservatory of Dance. In this program Lauren was able to gain practical teaching experience in many genres and in a classroom of her own students while being supported and monitored by a faculty adviser. In her senior year, Lauren was the Student Assistant Director of the Conservatory, running it's day to day operations and gaining experience in the administrative end of dance education.

Since the fall of 2005 Lauren has been teaching at the Lois Allen School of Dance in Clark, NJ and at On The Move Performing Arts Center in Butler, NJ.

This fall, Lauren began teaching exclusively for Lois Allen School of Dance and started their first competition team.

Lauren relishes being able to teach all age groups and many styles. She stays up to date by attending as many classes, workshops, and teacher training opportunities as possible. She has been proud to choreograph for her alma matters Arthur L Johnson High School ("She Loves Me" in 2006 and "Guys and Dolls" in 2007) and Carl H Kumpf Middle School ("Annie" in 2008). More recently she choreographed "Oklahoma" for the St. Matthias School in Somerset, NJ.

In the fall of 2009, Lauren began a performing career with Undertoe Dance Project as a jazz understudy in addition to her teaching responsibilities. A jazz/tap fusion company based in NYC, Undertoe Dance Project performs at many festivals and events in the tri-state area, as well as presenting in-school programs on dance. This year, Lauren has continued to dance with company while also taking on her new role as Company Manager.

Lauren is also a member of the National Dance Education Organization, Dance Educators of America, Associated Dance Teachers of New Jersey, and Dance New Jersey. Lauren is extremely passionate about all forms of dance and hopes that she can pass that on to her students.

Clark, NJ

Returning Staff, All Staff