Meet the Staff!
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Letha Fulton, Owner
lfschoolofdance@yahoo.com Letha grew up in Ludington, Michigan. Her early years of dance training were under the tutelage of Genevieve and Marlene Schoenberger. (The Schoenbergers were the catalyst for bringing dance into the Ludington Community.) She studied ballet (Cecchetti), jazz, tap and gymnastics. She passed four Cecchetti examinations highly commended. She later attended Butler University’s Jordan College of Fine Arts and performed with the Butler Ballet. She transferred to Goucher College in Towson, Maryland and graduated with a B.A. with honors in Dance Education/ Therapy. During her college training, she studied ballet, pointe, modern, jazz, tap and dance therapy. Her final year of college, she spent her two internships at the Maryland School of the Blind and at an Adult Center for the Mentally Challenged. During her years at college she had the privilege of studying with many guest artists including Violette Verdy, Patricia McBride and Jean Pierrre Bonnefous. Letha also enjoyed community theatre during her summers and had several dance roles in musicals such as Grease and West Side Story. Letha continues to enhance her training and education through summer studies, master classes with professional artists such as Finis Jung and Mia Michaels as well as dance conventions including NYCDA, Joe Tremaine and Jump. Letha also has studied the the movement works of Ann Green Gilbert called “braindance” and with her dance therapy as well as continued education in sensory integration, she creates innovative lesson plans to improve a child's sensory integration and brain "power". Letha also trained in Power Pilates as well as completed her Reformer 1 training with Balanced Body. She recently completed beginner-advanced mat training through Pilates Training Camps. She is USA Gymnastics Safety Certified and has completed Preschool and Elementary Gymnastics Certifications through Patti Komara, and is also trained and certified with Acrobatic Arts. Letha is grateful to her outstanding professors and mentors who have not only trained her but inspired her to share her passion of dance through continued education. "Excellence in training children is of utmost importance to me; I continually strive to keep learning, and to have my staff continue professional development through hands on training, courses and conventions". I am thankful to God for the opportunity to bring excellence in dance education to Fremont, Michigan. |
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Lauren Sawson, Artistic Director
lfsdfremont@gmail.com Lauren began her dance training at age 3 with Letha Fulton School of Dance in where she first began assistant teaching and her love of teaching was solidified. She then received her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in dance from Wayne State University in Detroit, MI. Lauren was formerly the Artistic Director of Sidney Dance Company (SDC), a youth pre-professional reperatory group housed in Sharon's School of Dance, where she was also Artistic Director teaching ballet, modern, contemporary, tap, jazz, acro, and hip-hop. With Sharon's School of Dance and Sidney Dance Company, Lauren directed, produced and/or choreographed productions like the Nutcracker, Shrek the Musical, and the Wizard of OZ, as well original productions. She can't wait to continue creating in Fremont! Lauren has trained in ballet, en pointe, modern, contemporary, jazz, tap, hip hop, and West African among other styles. She has studied under Meg Paul (Twyla Tharp, Joffrey Ballet), Laurie Peters (New York City Ballet, Original Cast of Sound of Music), New York based companies Amy Marshall Dance Company and Paul Taylor Dance Company, as well as Ralph Lemon. She has participated in a variety of master classes from Sonya Tayeh (So You Think You Can Dance?), Hope Boykin (Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater), Larry Kegwin, and Wanjiru Kamuyu (Broadway’s The Lion King) among others. Upon moving to Ohio, Lauren has trained in STOTT Pilates Mat and is also certified in Acrobatic Arts (Gymnastics). Additionally, this Fall Lauren begins her 200-RYT training to become a certified yoga instructor. She believes in cross-training the body with other aspects of movement to allow for full development and potential. Lauren is overjoyed that her dance journey has come full circle, as she continues her passion for teaching back "home" in Northern Michigan where it all began. |
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Lara Webster, Business Manager
lfsdwebster@gmail.com Lara grew up in her mother Letha's dance studio. Dancing all her life, Lara is now the Coach for the nationally ranked Aquinas College Dance Team as well as the LFSD Mini Performance Team Coach. Lara received her B.A from Aquinas College and after living in Chicago and Grand Rapids with her family, has come back home to Ludington to join her family at LFSD. |
