and her eternal - passionate affair with the dance of life...Performer, Choreographer Holistic Arts Practitioner - Master Teacher - Artistic Director
Laura is a native of Mexico City, Mexico. Ms. Armenta has always loved the discipline of movement; being an athlete all of her life, mainly as a track and field sprinter before she began her dance training withMiguel Añorve- a prestigious teacher and dancer from Ballet National de Mexico in Mexico City.
Ms. Armenta holds a degree in Arts and Humanities, with a dance specialty in Modern Dance and Choreography from Mexico’s National Institute of Fine Arts. As an autodidact performer and choreographer, has chosen to be a non-traditionally-educated dancer. Spending the past 15 years researching dance anthropology/ethnology. Ms. Armenta has studied with teachers from different ethnic groups and countries. Educating herself on the patterns of different cultural and tribal groups. Learning through dance how the creative culture evolves and far from making us different –dance unites human kind.
She performed professionally with one of Mexico’s best modern dance companies, Ballet Teatro del Espacio under the guidance of French director MicheleDescombey (former artistic director of Paris Opera Ballet, in France).
A varied performing career has afforded Miss Armenta the opportunity to work with renowned dance masters such as Anna Sokolow, Rudolf Nureyev, Diego Pinon, Jeremy Nelson and Daniel Nagrin to mention some.
Laura’s choreographic and teaching work, carry great influence from folk ethnic dances as well as a variety of concert dance techniques like Graham, Horton or contact improvisation.
Ms. Armenta, founded At Neemrah Dance Company in Mexico City, Mexico in 1993 under the name of Ad Libitum Dance Company.
At Neemrah Dance Company is a repertory dance company that performs a diverse and progressive interpretations of contemporary and ancient dance works influenced by a great variety of ethnic dances.
In order to give the company a more “personal touch“ Laura Armenta, Founder and Artistic Director changed the name to At Neemrah Dance Company in 2004.
As a significant and vital component of Grand Rapids arts and cultural community, Laura Armenta created “Diversity Through Dance Program”, an alternative, satellite dance program for institutions or individuals interested on learning dances from around the world. As well as her own format of Belly Dancing technique, featured in the new instructional DVD series (Available at The Armenta Studio)
In 2008 – Laura Armenta and At Neemrah Dance Company ended 4 successful years of a weekly Permanent Show in a Downtown venue. Currently At Neemrah Dance Company is celebrating its 9th season in Grand Rapids -proud to be an Independent and self-funded dance company.
Laura loves to learn as much as possible about the human body mechanics, therefore she has also pursue holistic disciplines. She is a devoted Yoga practitioner and has been a Yoga instructor for the past 10 years. She is certified in 3 different forms of yoga. She is a Yoga-Thai Massage certified practitioner; an Ayurvedic Medicine devoted student; certified personal trainer and Thai Boxing instructor.
Ms. Armenta has been featured in the local Grand Rapids Magazine as one of the women making a difference in the Grand Rapids community. In 2009 she has been nominated for the second time in a row for the Athena Young Professionals Award in recognition for her labor in the community and entrepreneur.
