A conversation about the celebrated career of an artist whose talent and determination thrilled audiences around the world,
and changed the face of dance.
Dr. Andrea Jaber, Chair of Performing Arts for HCC's Center of Excellence for Visual and Performing Arts (COE for VPA), is delighted to announce that Lauren Anderson, former principal dancer for the Houston Ballet and a groundbreaking figure in the history of American dance, will teach a master class for HCC dance students on Friday, March 11, 2016 at the HCC Central campus Studio Q. It will be followed by a conversation about Anderson's celebrated career.
In her more than 20 year career with Houston Ballet, Anderson brought virtuoso technique and a fiery intelligence to performances that thrilled both audiences and critics around the world. In the process she broke the color barrier to become the first African American woman to lead a major ballet company as principal dancer.
Dr. Jaber explains the happy chance that brought Anderson to her office. “I was thrilled to learn that Lauren Anderson is an HCC student when she came by to discuss the fine arts requirements for her degree. We are honored greatly that she agreed to offer our students this extraordinary opportunity to work with her, and we can proudly say that one of the greatest dancers of her generation is getting a degree from HCC."
Dr. Colleen Reilly, director of HCC's COE for VPA, points out that “Anderson offers students something beyond the fundamentals of ballet, something that only a performer of her stature could present: an example of a consummate professional. Of course it takes talent, but without skill, discipline, and constant improvement, there simply is no career. In the face of discouragement and discrimination, her commitment to excellence never wavered and that took her to the top of her profession. That's a story every student needs to hear.”
The Houston native retired from performing in 2006 and now teaches at the Houston Ballet Academy and manages the company's education and community outreach programs. She approaches education with the same passion she brought to performance, reaching out to young dancers everywhere, because, she says, “Art is not a privilege, it's a right.”
