Laura Oliveira

Guest Instructor

Laura Oliveira is originally from Tampa, Fl. She graduated from Howard W. Blake High School for The Performing Arts in 2010. Laura attended the University of Utah where she attained a BFA in Modern Dance and a minor in psychology. While attending ‘The U’, Laura participated in numerous summer programs such as Northwest Dance Project’s LAUNCH, American Dance Festival, Hubbard Street, Alonzo King’s LINES, and Ballet West. She performed in the Modern Department’s Performing Dance Company from 2010 to 2014. In that time, she was privileged to perform in works created by Andrea Miller, Merce Cunningham, Twyla Tharp, Marc Bogaerts, Eric Handman, Shaun Boyle, and Sharee Lane. As a graduating senior, she was awarded “Outstanding Performer.” Her time at ‘The U’ provided opportunity to travel to Germany and Panama. She trained with the Berlin Sate Ballet School in Germany and taught dance to many different demographics in Panama.

After graduating in 2014, Laura joined Odyssey Dance Theatre in Salt Lake City, UT. During her time with Odyssey, she had the honor to perform in Europe and the Middle East, create new works on the company and be a part of diverse work that has pushed her boundaries as a dancer. While performing with the company, she has taught at several local studios, high schools, and universities. Laura has been adjunct faculty at Westminster College and Utah Valley University. She has choreographed several pieces for Odyssey Dance Theatre and Utah Valley University.

Laura’s recently ventured into creating and producing her own work. Last summer (2021) she and Repertory Dance Theatre’s Dan Higgins premiered a duet entitled “Fragments Of…” in Salt Lake City, UT. In May of 2022, she was awarded Utah’s Best of State award for Individual Dancer. After dancing with Odyssey Dance Theatre for 8 years, she’s now transitioning into teaching full time. Her certification through Corepower yoga had inspired her classroom approach in theory and in physical practice.