Lauren Anderson (dancer) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Lauren Anderson
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Anderson interviewed in 2013
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| Born | February 19, 1965 |
| Occupation | Ballet dancer |
| Children | 1 |
| Former groups | Houston Ballet (1983–2006) |
Lauren Anderson was born on February 19, 1965, in Houston, Texas. She is a famous American ballet dancer. She was a principal dancer with the Houston Ballet.
In 1990, Lauren Anderson made history. She became one of the first African-American ballerinas to be a principal dancer for a major dance company. This was a very important moment for ballet in America. She danced in many well-known ballets. These included Don Quixote, Cleopatra, and The Nutcracker. She stopped dancing with the Houston Ballet in 2006. She fully retired from dance in 2009. In 2016, her special pointe shoes were placed in the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture. These were the shoes from her very last performance.
Early Life and Ballet Training
Lauren Anderson was the only child of her parents. Her father, Lawrence Anderson, was a school administrator. Her mother, Doris Parker-Morales, taught classical piano. Lauren was born in Houston, Texas. She started taking dance lessons when she was young. She also began learning to play the violin.
However, she decided to focus only on dance. This was because lessons for both were expensive. She felt she could learn violin later. From age seven, she trained at the Houston Ballet's Ben Stevenson Academy. She saw a show by Arthur Mitchell's company, Dance Theatre of Harlem. This helped her see ballerinas who looked like her. There were not many African-American ballerinas to look up to at that time.
After starting at the academy, Lauren performed in The Nutcracker. This was the ballet company's first time putting on the show. She grew up in Houston and finished Lamar High School in 1982. She chose to attend her local high school. This was because other schools had projects that would get in the way of her Nutcracker rehearsals.
While at the Stevenson Academy, Lauren became very serious about ballet. Her teacher, Ben Stevenson, once told her something difficult. He said her body was too muscular for ballet. He thought she might be better at musical theater. But Lauren did not give up. She changed her diet to become slimmer. She also started Pilates classes. These helped to lengthen her muscles for ballet.
Becoming a Star Dancer
Lauren Anderson joined the Houston Ballet in 1983. She was 18 years old. She started in the corps de ballet, which is the main group of dancers. Four years later, she was promoted to soloist. This meant she danced alone or with a few others.
In 1990, she became the first African-American principal dancer at the Houston Ballet. This was a huge achievement. She was the second African-American female ballet dancer to reach this high level in a major American ballet company. Debra Austin was promoted at the Pennsylvania Ballet eight years before her.
Lauren's performance as the main character in Cleopatra made her famous around the world. She also danced in ballets by other famous choreographers. These included George Balanchine, Sir Kenneth MacMillan, and Christopher Bruce. Lauren was the first dancer to play the role of Cleopatra in the ballet created by Ben Stevenson. Her performance received amazing reviews. The Boston Globe newspaper said she was "a powerhouse" in the role.
At one point, Lauren Anderson was the only African-American prima ballerina. This meant she was the top female dancer at a major ballet company anywhere in the world. In 1990, she won the Special Jury Award at the International Ballet Competition. She also received the International Critics Award.
Life After the Stage
Lauren Anderson stopped performing in 2006. In January 2007, she started a new role. She became an outreach associate for the Houston Ballet. She works in their Education and Community Engagement program. In this job, she teaches ballet classes at the Houston Ballet's academy. She also leads special classes at schools in the Houston area. People often ask her to give talks about ballet.
In 2016, a very special honor happened. Lauren Anderson's pointe shoes from her last performance were placed in the Smithsonian's National Museum of African American History and Culture. This shows how important her career was.
Personal Life
Lauren Anderson married Chris Stanaway in 2021. She has one son, born on April 30, 2003. His father is jazz saxophonist Kyle Turner. Lauren is a very religious person. She is a devout Christian. She goes to St. James Episcopal Church in Houston. There, she helps with a dance group called the Holy Spirit Dancers. She also often teaches at a professional school. It is called "The Link School of the Arts" in Michigan. She calls this school her "second home." Lauren now teaches classes to students everywhere. She wants to help them learn about ballet. She does this by giving lectures and movement classes.
