Lauri Stallings
Dancemaker
"I look for something else. The possibilities of making them feel what each gesture means,...
in the body everything must come from the heart, must be lived." Pina Bausch
Lauri Stallings is a contemporary dancemaker interested in the research of dance and its adherent ability to develop human potential. Unlike most professional dancers, Stallings did not attend a professional school affiliated with a company. Rather, her formal studies were at Pofahl Studios in her hometown of Gainesville, Florida, followed by Point Park University in Pittsburgh, under the tutelage of Roberto Munoz.
Stallings began her performance career at Cleveland San Jose’Ballet, devoting her early stages to the classical and neo-classical works of Petipa, Balanchine, Fokine and Bournonville. She broadened her performance repertoire at BalletMet, and most notably in Canada’s Ballet British Columbia, where she performed creations by contemporary choreographers Mark Godden, James Kudelka, Serge Bennethen, and Jean Grande Maitre, to name a few. At Ballet BC, under the auspicious direction of John Alleyne, Stallings was presented with her first occasion to choreograph. A solo in BBC’s “Boy Wonder,” Canada’s Globe & Mail called it “dazzling.”
Stallings returned to the US to dance her final five years as a performer with world renowed Hubbard St.Dance Chicago. Inside the language of Dancemakers of our time, such as Naharin and Kylian, Stallings would hone her investigation of movement into a skilled medium. Her inaugural commission, “Moody Hollow,” garnered Stallings several awards, including Chicagoan of the Year, and a Ruth Page Award from the Chicago Music and Dance Alliance.
In just three seasons as a full time dancemaker, Stallings has compiled a substantial body of work. Commissions include American Ballet Theatre, Hubbard St. Dance Chicago, Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, Julliard, Vail International Dance Festival, and Atlanta Ballet, where as part of 3-year choreographic residency, Lauri created two full lengths, two repertory works, and four site-specific works. Commissioned works also include American Ballet Theatre 2, the Dutch National Ballet Project, American Repertory Ballet, River North Dance Chicago, SUNY/Purchase, Hong Kong Dance Festival, Inwood Dance, and her alma mater of Point Park University.
Stallings’ work explores connections of emotion and form through highly physical and emotional essays. Several of her works have reflected a creative engagement with other art forms, manifesting rich stimulating soundscape, curiousity through the use of practical imagery, and universal gesture through visceral movement. Such collaborations include musician Howard Levy of Bella Fleck, Videographer Adam Larson, Costume Designer April McCoy, Pittsburgh artist Christo, Tony award winner Howell Binkley, and most notably, Big Boi of the world Hip Hop duo Outkast.
Stallings began her performance career at Cleveland San Jose’Ballet, devoting her early stages to the classical and neo-classical works of Petipa, Balanchine, Fokine and Bournonville. She broadened her performance repertoire at BalletMet, and most notably in Canada’s Ballet British Columbia, where she performed creations by contemporary choreographers Mark Godden, James Kudelka, Serge Bennethen, and Jean Grande Maitre, to name a few. At Ballet BC, under the auspicious direction of John Alleyne, Stallings was presented with her first occasion to choreograph. A solo in BBC’s “Boy Wonder,” Canada’s Globe & Mail called it “dazzling.”
Stallings returned to the US to dance her final five years as a performer with world renowed Hubbard St.Dance Chicago. Inside the language of Dancemakers of our time, such as Naharin and Kylian, Stallings would hone her investigation of movement into a skilled medium. Her inaugural commission, “Moody Hollow,” garnered Stallings several awards, including Chicagoan of the Year, and a Ruth Page Award from the Chicago Music and Dance Alliance.
In just three seasons as a full time dancemaker, Stallings has compiled a substantial body of work. Commissions include American Ballet Theatre, Hubbard St. Dance Chicago, Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, Julliard, Vail International Dance Festival, and Atlanta Ballet, where as part of 3-year choreographic residency, Lauri created two full lengths, two repertory works, and four site-specific works. Commissioned works also include American Ballet Theatre 2, the Dutch National Ballet Project, American Repertory Ballet, River North Dance Chicago, SUNY/Purchase, Hong Kong Dance Festival, Inwood Dance, and her alma mater of Point Park University.
Stallings’ work explores connections of emotion and form through highly physical and emotional essays. Several of her works have reflected a creative engagement with other art forms, manifesting rich stimulating soundscape, curiousity through the use of practical imagery, and universal gesture through visceral movement. Such collaborations include musician Howard Levy of Bella Fleck, Videographer Adam Larson, Costume Designer April McCoy, Pittsburgh artist Christo, Tony award winner Howell Binkley, and most notably, Big Boi of the world Hip Hop duo Outkast.
Stallings was in the original movement creation team for the widely acclaimed Julie Taymor film “Across the Universe.” She has choreographed for the Tony award-winning Alliance Theatre, and is a creative partner with Cirque De Soleil.
For her work, Stallings has received numerous awards, including an IAC Fellowship, a Driehaus Foundation Grant, and one of Dance Magazine’s “25 to Watch.” In the 2008 Year in Review, Stallings was recognized as an innovator of outstanding choreography in the cities of Pittsburgh and Atlanta. And most recently Stallings was nominated for the Benois de la Danse, the highest honors in the dance world, for her creative work in "big."
Stallings’ creative process is deeply integrated on an educational forum, exploring the notion that life and dance are by nature synonymous, through the transitory, palpable existence of both. Her teaching syllabus spans through classicism to contemporary, improvisation, and gaga, the movement awareness system formed by Israel Dancemaker Ohad Naharin. A few of the institutions where Lauri has taught are Lou Conte Dance Studios, University of Iowa, Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre School, School of American Repertory Ballet, Fordham/Ailey 2, Atlanta Ballet Dance Center of Education, Chicago Cultural Center and SUNY/Purchase.
It is an endless, willing research. Stallings is deeply inspired to reorient art forms from their historical encapsulation into fresh, dynamic expressions of today.
Lauri Stallings is based out of Atlanta, with gloATL, an integrated forum of contemporary artists who aim to create language, in their respectable artistic forms, that is relevant in today's world. In its inaugural season, gloATL has commissioned works in New York City, Chicago and Vancouver, BC. As well, residencies with gloATL include Kennesaw State University and Inwood Dance.
It is an endless, willing research. Stallings is deeply inspired to reorient art forms from their historical encapsulation into fresh, dynamic expressions of today.
Lauri Stallings is based out of Atlanta, with gloATL, an integrated forum of contemporary artists who aim to create language, in their respectable artistic forms, that is relevant in today's world. In its inaugural season, gloATL has commissioned works in New York City, Chicago and Vancouver, BC. As well, residencies with gloATL include Kennesaw State University and Inwood Dance.
Independently in the 09-10 season Stallings will create
new work for River North Dance Chicago in honor of their 20th anniversary, a 1 Act work for Ballet Nouveau Colorado, and a new creation for Ballet Augsburg, Germany.
