BIO: Laurie Goux is an accomplished dancer, choreographer, and producer. Laurie had the honor of performing and teaching Dunham Technique at the 2010 Augusta Festival at Davis & Elkins College and lectured on the African Influence in Appalachian music and dance 2011.  This year she returns to teach Dancing to the Blues and Afro-Brazilian dance. Laurie has been performing and choreographing throughout Chicago since 1981 and is one of Chicago’s most multifaceted artists. 

 

Recent choreographic works include, ...and the Women, a work inspired by the spiritual practice, movement, song, and rhythms of the Ringshout.  Rising Down, social justice piece duet set on Katharine Manor, extraordinary Tap dancer and Kaia Kater, dancer, singer/songwriter whose song bearing the same title was recognized in Rolling Stone Magazine. The duet is currently on tour.  Caribbean Tapestry a collaboration group piece set on D&E College and Austin Peay State College students was performed in 2017 Spring Dance Concerts in WV and TN. 

 

In 1995 she formed Spirit Wing Dance Ensemble under the guidance of her mentors Tommy Gomez and Jimmy Payne Sr.  She worked at South Shore Cultural Center where she taught and developed dance curricula from 1991 to 1995 and developed dance curricula for Chicago Park District, “Dancin’ In the Parks”, “Senior Dance Card” and “Park Kids” programs.  Laurie was a dance administrator for Boulevard Arts Center for 5 years.  She has presented Arts-In-Education programs for Chicago Public Schools since 1988.  Ms. Goux was Assistant Director of both, Body Language Dance Company under Tommy Gomez and Englewood Children’s Dance Company under Jimmy Payne Sr.  She was artistic director and co-presenter of “Keep the Legacy Alive: Tribute to Katherine Dunham” and Katherine Dunham Awards 1996-1998 co-chaired by Danny Glover and Debbie Allan.  She performed “Saturn Over Sunset”, solo for the “Estrogen Fest”.  She has performed in the works of Claudia Gittleman, Loretta Livingston, Shirley Mordine, XSight! Performance Group, Jan Erkert, Carol Bobrow, Robin Lakes, Kate Kuper, Lin Shook, Tommy Gomez, and Martha Clarke’s, “Haiku” performed by Mordine & Company trio, Tim O’Slynne, Brian Jeffery and Laurie Goux. Laurie produced the first combination dance tribute to Katherine Dunham, and Chicago Blues Music and Dance artists, “Suite Chicago Blues”, featuring Max-A-Million’s rendition of Willie Dixon’s song, My Babe in collaboration with the DuSable Museum and Chicago Blues Museum exhibit.  She choreographed the Nation of Islam’s Saviors Day production of; “Trials of a Queen” directed by Donna Farrakhan and performed her work, “On the Wings of Yemonja” for over 20 thousand at McCormick Convention Center as a part of Mother Tynetta’s performance. For Saviors Day 2008 she choreographed West African and Caribbean dance with music by Max-A-Million held at the Rosemont Horizon.

 

Her solo work, “Saturn Over Sunset”, was award winning at the American College Dance Festival Gala and as a result was awarded scholarships from Alwin Nikolais/Murry Lewis and Merce Cunningham.  She was also offered scholarship to Ailey school but continued her studies at Columbia College to become one of Chicago’s most influential choreographers and instructors.  She performed and taught for Chicago’s first World Music Fest at Summerdance with Sam Mangwana, Ghanattia International and Alpha Yaya Diallo.  Her dancing has shared the stage with many celebrated international music artist, Max-A-Million, Youssou N’Dour, Mori Keba Kouyate, Queen Asabia, and Rafo International Combo.  She has performed with almost every major modern dance company or choreographer in Chicago.

 

Laurie was Executive Director of the Legacy Theatre and promoter of the World Premier, all Black cast of “Ebony On Ice”, featuring Olympic champion skater, Rory Flack-Burghart.  She served on the faculty and staff of Columbia College Dance Center where she taught Modern Dance as a part of the core curriculum and participated in Writing Across the Curriculum as a Columbia College Dance Center instructor.  She directed 6 Chicago Gallery 37 projects as an Independent Artist, served as dance instructor/administrator for Chicago Park District since 1991 to 2001.  She taught dance for the Chicago Department on Aging to senior citizens at the Atlas Center and summer dance at Little Black Pearl.  In 2006 Laurie’s endeavors included launching the promotion of “Cookin’ With Jazz Television Production”, featuring Chef Jimmy Carter and local jazz artists. Ms. Goux is co-producing, “Smilin’ Island” a children’s educational show with Reggae/R&B/Pop, Gold/Platinum Recording Artist/Producer, Max-A-Million. 

 

Laurie's Youth Violence Prevention Initiative for K-12  program utilizes multi-media as a means to inspire youth to make positive choices.  She has also developed a dance and physics curriculum for K-8th grade.  Laurie along with a 4 star chef have developed the Kids-In-Shape after-school program that combines the culinary arts and dance exercise to fight obesity and diabetes in children.