Dean, Laura (1945–)
Dean, Laura (1945–)
American dancer and choreographer. Born Dec 3, 1945, on Staten Island, NY; graduate of High School of Performing Arts, 1963; trained with Mia Slavenska, Lukas Hoving, Paul Sanasardo, and Merce Cunningham.
Danced for short periods in NY with Paul Taylor Dance Company, Paul Sanasardo, Kenneth King, Meredith Monk, and Robert Wilson (1965–66); received recognition as choreographer for 1-minute solo Medieval (1965); founded Laura Dean Dance company (1971), renamed Laura Dean Dancers and Musicians (1976); worked closely with composer Steve Reich for such works as Stamping Dance (1971), Jumping Dance (1972) and Walking Dance (1973); choreographed for Joffrey Ballet, Ohio Ballet, Royal Danish Ballet, and New York City Ballet; taught at University of Texas, University of Rhode Island, and Pratt Institute; received a New York Dance and Performance (Bessie) award. Further works include An Hour in Silence (1970), Drumming (1975), Night (1980, for Joffrey Ballet), Fire (1982, for Joffrey), Space (1988, for New York City Ballet), Earth (1993, for Ohio Ballet), and Cloud (1994).