Bio

LaurenMarie Valadez graduated with a BA in Dance Studies from Texas Woman’s University (TWU) in May of 2019. LaurenMarie's passion for dance started in high school when she joined the Mansfield Summit High School drill team, the Summit Sapphires. During her four years on the team she was trained in jazz, ballet, kick, pom, prop, and military. Every year, the team would compete in multiple competitions around the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex. During her senior year on the team, LaurenMarie led the team (as a lieutenant) in teaching new competition and field routines and clarifying movements to create sharp and precise choreography. All the experience and time dedicated to the Summit Sapphires molded her passion for dance and teaching that made her the artist she is today.

During her time at TWU, LaurenMarie focused her training in post-modern dance and ballet. On top of these two styles, she also got to take contact improvisation, West African, Southeast Asian, and traditional Korean dance classes. LaurenMarie was featured in all of TWU’s concert series (Dance UpClose, DanceMakers, and CP Showcase) where she performed works choreographed by guest artists, graduate, and undergraduate works. Apart of her time at TWU LaurenMarie had the opportunity to generate works. She first created Atramentous (Fall 2018). Bringing to life panic-stricken movement that was inspired by a recent event that spiraled her life into an unexpected direction. She then choreographed Eupnea (Spring 2019), which explored the conception and sounds of breath. This work premiered at TWU's Dance UpClose concert series (Spring 2019).

Outside of her life in dance, LaurenMarie grew up in the classroom always watching her mother educate and inspire her students to grow in pre-k, kindergarten, and ESL. This gave LaurenMarie the opportunity to help her mother as a paraprofessional for the BEK-1 summer school program. In this program, she helped create lesson plans, math/reading/science stations, read with the children, and help teach lessons.

After receiving her Texas Educator Certification Examination in Dance Content for grades 6-12. LaurenMarie continued her education by receiving her Masters of Arts in Teaching with a concentration in Dance 6-12 at TWU (December 2019). LaurenMarie believes that education is the gateway to help students learn whom they want to become (whether it’s a doctor, teacher, nurse, or governor), and work towards achieving their individual goals. LaurenMarie will bring out the best in all her students by creating an effective cross-curricular learning curriculum. Cross-curricular learning is the process of taking the outcomes from each subject and implementing the goals throughout the day. This provides a holistic education experience that challenges and encourages the students to think outside the box.

LaurenMarie Valadez is currently working PE paraprofessional at McNutt Elementary in Arlington Independent School District. This summer she is returning to Wimbish World Language Academy for their summer enrichment camp as a dance teacher. LaurenMarie Valadez recently was accepted and now attends Dallas Baptist Univerity for their Masters in Educational Leadership program. She hopes to one day serve as a leader in fine arts for a campus or district.