Meet Lauren Davis | Dancer, Actor, and Dance Instructor

We had the good fortune of connecting with Lauren Davis and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Lauren, do you disagree with some advice that is more or less universally accepted?
I hardly agree that “practice makes perfect.” Practice makes habits, whether they be good or bad, so if one wants to improve at his or her craft, one must consistently practice good habits so that they become second nature. Since “perfection” is unattainable and unrealistic, the goal of practicing anything one does should be to constantly improve, to be better than you were yesterday.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I am proud of the way I maintained my technique and have stayed in shape throughout quarantine over the past year. I did not have access to dance classes to continue my training, so I had to be entirely self motivated. My passion for dance and children has not changed, despite having moved cross country from Los Angeles because of the coronavirus, as well as having finished my degree in the midst of worldwide chaos. It was by no means easy to stay motivated and remember my “why,” but weight training and dancing on my own gave me stability and a routine in a time where there is a lot of uncertainty. I have since found a teaching job at JDM School of Dance that I absolutely love because I get to be in the studio every day making a positive impact on young children. I teach kids as young as 20 months old up to teenagers, and I really have fallen in love with every age group. When I was in college at Hussian College Los Angeles: In Studio, they taught us the importance of being a versatile, well-rounded dancer, because it increases a dancer’s marketability in the entertainment industry. What I did not realize is that versatility also increases marketability in the teaching department as well, because the more styles you know and are well-versed in, the more genres you can teach. My lifelong goal as a dancer was to excel at every style, and I feel as though that mindset has carried full circle into my teaching, though by no means do I declare myself a perfect teacher. There is always more to learn, but I am very eager and excited to continue giving back to an industry I love so much.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I’ve always thought the Reunion Tower was really cool since I was a child. The thought of a restaurant being up there fascinated me, so I would definitely want to go there. Six Flags in Fort Worth is another place I think everyone should go to at least once, especially for children. The Dallas World Aquarium and the Fort Worth Zoo are great both for kids and adults if you ask me, so that’s another must-see place. In terms of food, if you’re like me and love Mexican food, Uncle Julio’s needs to be on your list of places to go, as well as Frogg’s Coffee Bar and Creperie. Both their sweet and savory crepes are fabulous and you get to watch them make the crepes, so that’s pretty cool. My favorite places to go for desserts are Bahama Bucks for their snowcones (though their smoothies are good too), Paciugo, and Paradise Bakery. I have such a sweet tooth, so I’d take any friend there in need of satisfying a craving!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I’d like to give a shoutout to my wonderful dance studio, JDM School of Dance, and all of its students and faculty. They embraced and welcomed me with open arms and have nurtured my love for children and teaching. They are a close-knit family, which throughout COVID, is something I believe everyone needs right now. We all need a circle of kind and supportive people, and they have been that for me.

Website: laurenrdavis.com

Instagram: @laurenruthdavis

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkBvtUGWvVVzebbPP3_a2Qw

Other: jdmschoolofdance.com

Image Credits
Louise Flores