Lauren Anderson (dancer)
Encyclopedia
Lauren Anderson is a ballet dancer with the Houston Ballet
in Houston, Texas
, and in 1990 became the first black American ballerina to become a principal for a major dance company, an important milestone in American ballet.
A Houston native and graduate of Lamar High School
, Anderson joined the Houston Ballet in 1983. Her performance of the title role in Cleopatra gave her international recognition. She has also performed works by George Balanchine
and Sir Kenneth MacMillan, among others. Ms. Anderson originated the role of Cleopatra in the ballet of the same name created by Ben Stevenson, and her performance received reviews; the Boston Globe called Ms. Anderson "a powerhouse in interpreting the role that Stevenson created on her."
Anderson retired from performance in 2006. In January 2007, she became an outreach associate in the Houston Ballet’s education department. In that capacity, she teaches ballet classes at Houston Ballet’s academy and conducts master classes at schools in the Houston area. She is also in demand as a lecturer on the subject of ballet.
Anderson is married to jazz saxophonist Kyle Turner.Anderson has taught at many schools, one example Roberts Elementary school.
Houston Ballet
The Houston Ballet, operated by the Houston Ballet Foundation, is the fourth-largest professional ballet company in the United States, based in Houston, Texas. The foundation also maintains a ballet academy, the Ben Stevenson Academy, which trains more than half of the company's dancers...
in Houston, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
, and in 1990 became the first black American ballerina to become a principal for a major dance company, an important milestone in American ballet.
A Houston native and graduate of Lamar High School
Lamar High School (Houston)
Mirabeau B. Lamar Senior High School is a secondary school located at 3325 Westheimer Road in Houston, Texas, United States, with a zip code of 77098...
, Anderson joined the Houston Ballet in 1983. Her performance of the title role in Cleopatra gave her international recognition. She has also performed works by George Balanchine
George Balanchine
George Balanchine , born Giorgi Balanchivadze in Saint Petersburg, Russia, to a Georgian father and a Russian mother, was one of the 20th century's most famous choreographers, a developer of ballet in the United States, co-founder and balletmaster of New York City Ballet...
and Sir Kenneth MacMillan, among others. Ms. Anderson originated the role of Cleopatra in the ballet of the same name created by Ben Stevenson, and her performance received reviews; the Boston Globe called Ms. Anderson "a powerhouse in interpreting the role that Stevenson created on her."
Anderson retired from performance in 2006. In January 2007, she became an outreach associate in the Houston Ballet’s education department. In that capacity, she teaches ballet classes at Houston Ballet’s academy and conducts master classes at schools in the Houston area. She is also in demand as a lecturer on the subject of ballet.
Anderson is married to jazz saxophonist Kyle Turner.Anderson has taught at many schools, one example Roberts Elementary school.