Laura Armenta Dance Company
Contemporary Dance. Cross-Cultural Stories. Shared Humanity.
ABOUT US
Laura Armenta Dance Company is a Michigan-based contemporary dance company rooted in cross-cultural movement research, compelling storytelling, and the transformative power of performance.
Founded by choreographer and artistic director Laura Armenta in Mexico City in 1992 and reestablished in West Michigan in 2001, the company reflects more than three decades of artistic evolution. Its work is grounded in contemporary dance and shaped by Armenta’s extensive study of movement traditions across cultures and throughout history.
Laura Armenta Dance Company is a Michigan-based contemporary dance company rooted in cross-cultural movement research, compelling storytelling, and the transformative power of performance.
Founded by choreographer and artistic director Laura Armenta in Mexico City in 1992 and reestablished in West Michigan in 2001, the company reflects more than three decades of artistic evolution. Its work is grounded in contemporary dance and shaped by Armenta’s extensive study of movement traditions across cultures and throughout history.
At the heart of the company is the belief that movement is one of humanity’s earliest languages, a powerful way to communicate, question, remember, and connect. Through visceral choreography and richly layered theatrical experiences, Laura Armenta Dance Company explores themes of womanhood, identity, cultural memory, resilience, empowerment, and our shared humanity.
Laura Armenta’s distinctive choreographic language brings contemporary dance into conversation with martial arts, ritual, theatricality, and movement practices from around the world. Her work is known for its physical intensity, expressive detail, visual poetry, and character-driven narratives. Rather than using cultural influences as decoration, Armenta approaches them through sustained study, lived experience, and respect for their histories and contexts.
As founder and artistic director, Armenta guides the company’s artistic vision while creating space for dancers and collaborating artists to contribute their individual voices. This exchange produces work that is both cohesive and deeply human, rooted in a defined choreographic vocabulary yet alive with personal interpretation.
Collaboration is central to the company’s practice. Laura Armenta Dance Company works across artistic disciplines, industries, organizations, cultures, and generations. Its projects have brought together dancers, musicians, poets, visual artists, cultural educators, wellness practitioners, community leaders, and other creative partners to develop performances and experiences that extend beyond conventional definitions of dance.
The company’s repertoire ranges from contemporary concert works to culturally informed and interdisciplinary productions centered on women’s experiences, ancestral memory, and cross-cultural dialogue. Throughout its history, the company has presented work locally, nationally, and internationally in theaters, festivals, films, educational institutions, libraries, and community spaces.
Educational programming and community engagement are important extensions of the company’s professional performance work. Through workshops, artist residencies, lecture-demonstrations, school programs, and participatory experiences, the company invites people of different ages and backgrounds to encounter dance as both an art form and a means of discovery.
Whether performing on a theater stage, collaborating with an organization, or bringing movement into an unexpected setting, Laura Armenta Dance Company creates experiences that invite audiences to feel, reflect, and connect.
Through performances, choreographic commissions, educational programs, community partnerships, and commercial collaborations, the company continues to expand what storytelling through movement can reveal.
OUR Mission
Laura Armenta Dance Company creates and presents contemporary dance experiences shaped by cross-cultural movement research and centered on stories of womanhood, identity, and empowerment. Through performance, artistic collaboration, education, and community engagement, we use movement to deepen cultural understanding, inspire human connection, and illuminate what we share.
DANCERS
Under the visionary artistic direction of Laura Armenta, the Laura Armenta Dance Company delves deeply into ancestral narratives, seamlessly weaving the threads of the past into the fabric of the present. Each dancer is encouraged to explore their personal history and emotional landscape, uncovering the layers that shape their unique character and artistic voice. This transformative process fosters not only creative expression but also personal growth, enabling each performer to embody their role with authenticity and depth.
The accomplished artists of the company embrace the challenge of bringing their full, unfiltered selves to every performance. Their shared commitment to vulnerability and integrity has cultivated a profound sense of unity within the group, which they lovingly describe as a family, including guest performers. This familial bond, combined with their raw talent and dedication, infuses each piece with palpable energy and sincerity, captivating audiences and leaving an indelible impression.
Kaylee Koslowske
Brooklynn Hebert
Archana Madhukar Sardar
Dale Johnson
Elisa Besteman
Regina Lum-Witkoske
Collaborating Artists
Erick Picarcdo
Saul Aguirre
Vanya Marston
LADC ALUMNI
Brandi Angelosanto, Jennifer Avery, Kaylin Bazick, Griselda Betancourt, Valeriia Bevzenko-Green, Brian Bialowas, Jennifer Brown, Samantha Fox, Paula Foley, Carolina Gil-Ortegon, Julie Gritter, Chelsea Gajadhar, Tenin Jabathere, Adam Junkman, Kyle Kimble, Natasha Kubiak, Jazmine Kuyayki-Broe, Jesus Laredo, Kara Madden-Brems, Shelley Marinus, Julie Mausolf, Carie Niewiek, Christy Olgine-Bolt, Sarah Ophoff, James P. Otis, Jennifer Flanders, Rachael Stebbins-Billingsley, Marci Stembol, Hannah Splajt, Jill Ritchie, David Rodriguez, Roselda Paliotto, Mary Jo Priest, Matt Trussell, Fabiola Tenorio.
Laura Armenta draws on the expertise of a diverse network of creative professionals to bring each production to its fullest artistic expression. Her uniquely multidisciplinary approach celebrates the contributions of artists from various fields, ensuring that every element of her work is enriched by diverse perspectives and skills.
From poets and painters to sculptors, videographers, dramaturgs, and set designers, each collaborator plays a vital role in shaping the visual, emotional, and conceptual depth of her productions. These creative voices are seamlessly woven into Laura’s vision, enhancing her ability to craft immersive narratives that resonate on multiple levels.
By integrating such a wide range of artistic disciplines, Laura ensures that her performances are not only visually stunning but also intellectually and emotionally compelling. This collaborative ethos reflects her belief in the power of collective creativity to elevate storytelling and create transformative experiences for audiences.
Each production becomes a tapestry of innovation, where the convergence of movement, design, and narrative invites viewers into a world that is both universal and profoundly personal. Laura Armenta’s dedication to collaboration underscores her commitment to pushing artistic boundaries and redefining the possibilities of performance.
