Payton Lauer, Instructor

Payton is a dancer, choreographer, and educator of dance. Originally from Northern Colorado, Payton graduated Cum Laude and as a University Honors Scholar from Colorado State University in May 2021 with a BFA in Dance and a minor in Business Administration. Payton was selected for the Jane Sullivan School of Dance scholarship and the Creative and Performing Arts scholarship. At CSU, Payton had the opportunity to perform in over 15 shows, present numerous pieces, attend National Dance Education Organization, attend American College Dance Association, travel with the Outreach program where she performed and taught at numerous venues across Colorado, and act as President of the Dance Student Advisory

Committee. Throughout her career, she has had the opportunity to take master classes under prestigious names including Denise Vale, France J. Roach, Raffaele Morra, Lauren Gibbs, Kenny Wormald, and Mia Michaels. She was also selected to perform works by Salvatore Aiello (restaged by Jeri Kumery) and André Megerdichian. Payton’s passions lie in contemporary dance, choreography, dance education, and dance for film. She has performed in over ten dance films and has directed three, one of which was presented at Life/Art’s “Life in Motion: A Colorado Dance Film Festival” in February 2022. Currently, Payton is a member of professional

contemporary dance company Authentic: Grooves. She plans to keep performing as long as she can while sharing her love for dance to others through teaching, choreography, engagement, and advocacy.