For Episode 9 of the Creative Impact Podcast, I have the joy of introducing you to one of my teachers and mentors, Laura Morton. Laura serves as an Associate Professor of Dance and Director of the Ballet Division at Belhaven University in Jackson, MS. She has traveled nationally and internationally performing professionally, teaching, and choreographing. 

Laura and I talk about what it was like as educators ending the Spring 2020 semester during the pandemic, and we contemplate how dance could be impacted by this shift in our society. Laura shares about her journey in dance. Her path began with a pursuit of professional ballet, moved to teaching aerobics in the 1980s, then to jazz dance and eventually led her to a career in teaching at the collegiate level. Laura explains how she never thought she would become a teacher, let alone a professor in higher education. 

Laura’s passion for teaching is evident, and she shares valuable insights for teachers as she explains her own journey and teaching philosophy. Laura’s background includes a degree in psychology and a Master of Science in Applied Exercise Physiology. To increase longevity as a dancer, Laura recommends working with the body you have and understanding the power of thoughts in performance. Laura reminds us that while dance takes discipline, it should also be full of joy!

You can listen to the show HERE, and you can be sure not to miss a Creative Impact conversation by subscribing through your favorite podcast app (ie. iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher).  We are so grateful to have you as a part of the Creative Impact community and would love it if you would share the show with your friends!

About Laura:

Laura Morton’s background includes extensive training in classical ballet, jazz, and modern from prestigious dance educators, professional performing experience, and years of teaching in professional ballet schools. Her professional credits include Milwaukee Ballet, Delia Stewart Dance Company, Houston Metropolitan Dance Company and Ad Deum Dance Company. Laura has traveled nationally and internationally performing professionally, teaching, and choreographing. Her teaching credentials include serving on the faculties of Summer Arts Session (Ravensburg, Germany), Pacific Northwest School of Ballet (Seattle, WA), Evergreen City Ballet (Auburn, WA), Houston Metropolitan Dance Center (TX), and Houston Ballet Ben Stevenson Academy (TX). In addition, she served as the Co-director of Ad Deum Dance Company (Houston, TX) under the directorship of Randall Flinn.  She has also earned a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and a Master of Science degree in Applied Exercise Physiology. In 2017, she received the “Excellence in Higher Education” Award from the Mississippi Alliance for Arts Education. Presently, she serves as an Associate Professor of Dance and Director of the Ballet Division at Belhaven University in Jackson, MS. 

Links from the Show:

• Belhaven University
• Milwaukee Ballet
• Houston Baptist University
• University of Houston
• Randall Flinn – Episode 4
• Ad Deum Dance Company
• Houston Ballet
• Houston Ballet Academy
• Cynthia Newland – Episode 6
• PNB – Pacific Northwest Ballet
• Vaganova Method
• Psalm 139
• IADMS – International Association for Dance Medicine & Science
• Joshua Nichols, Composer

Important Disclosure: The links below are affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. You pay nothing extra; any commission I earn comes at no additional cost to you.

• “The Battlefield of the Mind” by Joyce Meyers
• “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe” by C. S. Lewis

Connect with Laura:

Facebook

lmorton@belhaven.edu

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