MCB Summer: Jennifer Lauren back in the Big Easy!

Jennifer Lauren

Jennifer Lauren

Soloist Jennifer Lauren tells all about her trip to the Big Easy for her guest performance with New Orleans Ballet Theatre and more as part of our MCB Summer series!

Summers are always a busy time for me. My husband Blake, my dog Sophie and I always hop in the car and drive far and wide across the southern states. This summer we found ourselves in New Orleans. A place where both of our families have vacationed many times, and the location of our honeymoon.

Before we went to New Orleans, fellow MCB dancers Jennifer Kronenberg, Carlos Guerra, their beautiful baby girl Eva, Renan Cerdeiro and I traveled to Sanibel Island to work with former New York City Ballet Principal Melinda Roy. She was so wonderful and a joy to work with!  Renan and I rehearsed George Balanchine’s Stars and Stripes and Jennifer and Carlos rehearsed Balanchine’s Apollo. It was a special trip because we rehearsed at former MCB Principals Iliana Lopez and Franklin Gamero’s new studio — Gulfshore Ballet in Ft Myers. They are a lovely pair and were very welcoming.

After a few weeks of West Side Story Suite rehearsal in Miami, we flew to the Big Easy to guest with New Orleans Ballet Theatre. It was a pleasure to work with the director Greg Schramel and his wife Marjorie Hardwick — both former dancers with MCB, as well!

The performance was a treat for all to see. This was Jennifer Kronenberg’s first time back on the stage since her pregnancy with Eva, who is just about the most precious baby ever! Jennifer and Carlos are wonderful with her and so much fun to be around.

I was also excited to have my husband, my mother and my niece come to see the performance and visit in New Orleans.

Dancing Balanchine’s Stars and Stripes is always one of my favorite pieces to perform, especially so close to the Fourth of July! The music is so patriotic and I’m so lucky to have a partner as talented as Renan! We really had a great time dancing and exploring New Orleans.

After everything, my husband and I made time to celebrate our four year wedding anniversary at the same restaurant we went to on our honeymoon.