Lauren LaPointe has gone from novice to ballroom superstar in less than two years. Thanks to her partner: Louis Bar. (Photo courtesy of Lauren LaPointe)
By: Jacob Elyachar
Lauren LaPointe has a passion to dance.
This Kansas City native has grown as a dancer since she became a student of renowned ballroom dancer Louis Bar. She quickly evolved from ballroom novice to traveling across the country with her teacher to compete against other high-caliber couples. Her hard work and training paid off, as she placed seventh in the Finals of the National Dance Council of America (NDCA)’s World Championship and came in second at the 2012 Pro-Am Dancesport Dancers Cup Tour.
Recently, I had the chance to talk to Lauren about how she got into dancing, her first competition and some of her highlights in her career.
Jacob Elyachar: Lauren, how did you get interested in dancing?
Lauren LaPointe: I actually got interested in dancing because my grandmother used to do social ballroom dancing. I was always attracted to the old world style of dancing. When the Kansas City Ballet offered a social ballroom class, I had to sign up! The reason why I signed up was that my girlfriend was teaching the class with her Pro-Am partner, Louis Bar, and I wanted to learn more about ballroom dancing on the social level.
JE: What was that first class like?
LLP: The first class was not intimidating. I had danced at other parties before, but I did not really know what I was doing. There I was, being lead by a Pro-Am champion instructor, Louis Bar (who is shorter than I am) and he put me through some basic Waltz steps. He told me that I could follow really well and that following your male dancer is the key for being a successful woman dancer in the ballroom world. Louis wanted me to go to his studio and to explore a little bit more of what I could do.
JE: What were some of the hardest concepts to learn?
LLP: Louis has a technique that he teaches everybody. There are three techniques, which are the basic fundamentals of dance. I wish I could tell you about them, but that will reveal his teaching style. You could go to the studio to learn these fundamentals. If you keep these three fundamentals, you are able to follow any man who knows how to keep count as well.
JE: Let’s talk about your first dance competition. What was that experience like?
LLP: I did not know what I was getting into when I entered my first dance competition. It was a fresh and new experience for me. After a whole year, I barely knew my sequences and I relied on Louis for everything.
There was a moment on the floor, where I was doing my crossover and I looked at this judge, who was right in front of me. Louis told me that I was not supposed to look at the judges. Well, it turns out that the judge in front of me was Tony Meredith from So You Think You Can Dance. I turned right in front of him and he looked right at me and said: “I like the way you two dance.” After we got off the floor and I asked Louis: “Was that Tony Meredith?” and Louis said: “That was Tony Meredith.” I just became a ghost because I have never been starstrucked ever before in my life.
I was scared to look at my results, at that competition; I did placed ninth out of all of the 200 competitors. I think landing in ninth place in that event helped my confidence and I thought that Tony liked me. Throughout the year, I watched Tony’s face as I improved and got better with my technique. But my first experience was nerve-wracking because there was this amazing dancer-choreographer judging me on my dance style.
JE: Last year, you performed at the Dancer’s Cup Tour. What was going through your mind when Louis presented the idea to you?
LLP: When we started the first competition in Nashville, I did not realize that it was going to be followed with the Dancer’s Cup Tour. The Dancer’s Cup Tour is a series of 10 competitions in a year that takes place all over the United States. I only had to perform at eight of them because of prior commitments. I had to skip two.
When we found out that we wanted to chase this dream, it was one year ago after the St. Louis Star Ball. At the St. Louis Star Ball, I was the top bronze student and number one out of the Top 20 students in the entire competition. It was a big title and the first time I have ever gotten for dancing or anything I ever did.
To me, it was a big milestone. During that milestone, we decided that we were going to chase it and see what can we do. Placing in second was a huge leap forward, because I never danced BEFORE professionally, even though I danced behind closed doors, to be where I am now.
JE: How do you prepare for competitions?
LLP: The preparation that I do is based on my actions. Every time, I go into a studio, I would either train on my own or hire someone for a private lesson. When I train with Louis, we would bring in people to help us solidify our routines.
JE: Could you please share with my readers, the different styles of dance that you have learned? Do you have a favorite dance style that you like to perform?
LLP: When I first started, I began with an American style of dancing. There is American Smooth: Foxtrot, Tango and Viennese Waltz. Another category is American Rhythm: Cha-Cha, Rumba and Mambo. After I learned those styles, we also added a few of the Club styles: Hustle, West Coast Swing, Meringue and the Argentine Tango. I also learned international styles of Latin and Standard (or Ballroom) as well.
My favorite style to dance is Argentine Tango is my favorite because I am dancing with a master of Argentine Tango (Louis). Louis is ranked fourth in the world in the Argentine Tango category. Every time that we perform that dance in a competition, it is not a choreographed routine. We feel the music and each other when we perform the routine. He leads me through the emotions and actions that I need to do and that is a true Argentine Tango.
JE: What are your goals for your Ballroom Dancing career?
LLP: I did not realize that this would be a career; it was originally going to be a hobby. There are three different levels of study for Ballroom Dancing: a Bronze Level, a Silver Level and a Gold Level. The most difficult level you think would be gold…but it is not! It is the technique of the Bronze Level. In the Bronze level of Ballroom Dancing, you are learning the basic fundamentals, where you are on your foot and action. Once you learn your basics in the Bronze Level, Silver and Gold come naturally. My goal is to learn all of those levels and of course, win the Dancer’s Cup Tour this year. In the future, I also want to be certified in all of those levels, so if I decide to give up my amateur status, I could turn into a professional and teach other gentlemen or ladies who want to dance. I could also become a coach and teach people before they go to competitions.
JE: If you had the chance to meet with aspiring ballroom dancers, what advice would you share with them?
LLP: Once you find your passion in something, don’t let ANYONE block you. Don’t let anything get in your way.
To learn more about Lauren and her projects, visit her website: http://www.laurenlapointe.com/
