Lauren MacKinnon
Founder & Studio Director
BA (Media), Master of Teaching - Secondary (Drama & Dance)
D A N C E T R A I N I N G
Lauren MacKinnon has over 20 years of dance training and over 10 years of experience within the performing arts.Her love of dance started at the age of 4 learning classical ballet. Primarily a dancer in jazz ballet and tap, she also has training in hip hop, jazz - funk - hip hop (JFH), contemporary and musical theatre.
Performing at numerous dance concerts, eisteddfods, fashion parades, conferences, and flashmobs dancing at Nova Studios, she developed a love for the stage. Her passion for performing continued after leaving school, when she became involved with local musical theatre societies.
Her onstage performances include; Ensemble in Grease (Hornsby Musical Society, 2013), Showgirl in Follies (HMS, 2013), The Producers (HMS, 2014), Hollywood Blonde & Tessie Tura understudy in Gypsy (HMS, 2015), Hot Box Girl in Guys & Dolls (HMS, 2016), Teen Queen in We Will Rock You (HSM, 2018), Mayor in Rock of Ages (Sydney Youth Musical Theatre, 2018), Reno's Angel in Anything Goes (HMS, 2018) and Go-To-Hell Kitty in Chicago (Blackout Theatre Company, 2022).
She has since trained with industry professionals dancing at Millennium Dance Complex (LA, California), Mad Dance House (Brisbane), Tap Dogs HQ (Bondi), Sydney Dance Company and Brent Street (Sydney) within the styles of hip hop, JFH, tap, theatre jazz and contemporary.
D A N C E T E A C H I N G
Lauren's love for dance teaching expanded during her Bachelor of Arts and Master of Teaching degrees. She has taught at various dance schools in Sydney including Nova Studios, The Australian Institute of Performing Arts (AIPA), Groove Nation and Pistachio Entertainment. As well as choreographing musicals at North Shore schools and local theatre companies.
C H O R E O G R A P H Y
Lauren's choreography and production works include The Producers (Assistant Choreographer, HMS, 2014), The Wedding Singer (Choreographer, HMS, 2016), Shrek JR The Musical (Production Assistant, Ravenswood School For Girls, 2017), The Little Mermaid (Choreographer, Northern Beachers Christain School, 2018) and High School Musical: On Stage (Choreographer, NBCS, 2019), Wicked (Choreographer, Abbotsleigh, 2021), Beautiful: The Carole King Musical (Choreographer, BTC, 2021), The Boy From Oz (Choreographer, BTC, 2022) and Matilda JR (Choreographer, Loreto Normanhurst, 2022).
She is currently choreographing Into The Woods at Abbotsleigh that will be running in May 2023.
D T L S T U D I O S
After struggling to find a non-competitive adult dance studio on the North Shore, Lauren committed herself to establish Dancing Through Life Studios. A studio that she herself would love to attend that is close to home, has a variety of classes of different dance levels, is a fun workout, has competitive prices and great value for money!
DTLS encourages a social, welcoming and friendly environment where dancers can learn a new style of dance or maintain their current dance abilities. Understanding that adults have busy lives, DTLS offers studio classes on Tuesday (Hornsby Studio), Thursday nights (St Ives Studio) and Friday mornings (St Ives Studio). DTLS also offers Private Lessons and DTLS TV for adults to access dance outside of our studio hours.
"My dream is, for DTLS to be a place where adults from all walks of life can come to dance while encouraging, inspiring and empowering others through dance."
- Lauren MacKinnon
Come and join us in dancing through life!