Lara Faucher, Ballet Instructor
larasuef@gmail.com

Lara Faucher began her ballet training under Sally Seven and Charthel Arthur and Robert Estner former dancers of the Joffrey Ballet.  Through the resources and connections of these excellent teachers Lara received additional training from teachers such as Cherie Noble, George DeLaPena, Rebecca Wright, Paul Sutherland, Brunilda Ruiz, Edward Villella and Trinette Singleton to name just a few. 

Lara danced professionally with Ballet Magnificat!, located in Jackson, MS.  While touring professionally with Ballet Magnificat! toured throughout the United States and Canada. While dancing full-time and touring Lara was presented with opportunities to lead workshops and teach at the Ballet Magnificat! summer workshop. During this time and through these experiences a seed was planted for teaching and Lara was able to merge more clearly her faith into the art she loved so much - ballet! After dancing professionally with Ballet Magnificat! Lara began her collegiate studies at Kuyper College, receiving her minor in Biblical Greek.  It was at this time that she began teaching at the Grand Rapids Ballet and realized more fully her love and passion for teaching, mentoring and nurturing younger dancers.  Continuing her teaching at GRB Lara transferred to Hope College so as to pursue a Dance Major. While attending Hope College, Lara was able to study with yet another excellent set of instructors such as Ray Tadio, Linda Graham, Steven Iannacone and Julio Rivera while also performing in Ariel Dance Theater. Developing a new side to dance in the contemporary and modern realm Lara was able to bring better understanding, experience and maturity into her own technique, choreography and teaching.

Upon graduating cum laude in 1998 with a B.A. in Performance/Choreography, Lara founded Turning Pointe School of Dance in Holland, MI. Beginning with 23 students in the Spring of 1999 Turning Pointe School of Dance now currently has over 400 students.  Starting out with a small rented space the school now has its own facility, three studios, a satellite studio, an excellent staff, supportive board of directors and incredible teachers.  As Founder and Artistic Director from 1999 to the Spring of 2014, Lara enjoyed the opportunity of teaching, choreographing and mentoring many students.  During her time as Artistic Director at TPSD Lara collaborated in the creating of 9 full length ballets, many individual pieces, and has written and developed both ballet and Bible curriculum for the school.

Lara Faucher is an ABT® Certified Teacher, who has successfully completed the ABT® Teacher Training Intensive in Pre-Primary through Level 5 of the ABT® National Training Curriculum. Lara teaches at Grand Rapids Ballet and Grand Valley State University in the Department of Music and Dance. She also teaches and coaches independently throughout Michigan. One of her greatest joys continues to be teaching.  The passion to work with dancers, to mentor them and cultivate a life long passion for learning and understanding of the art of ballet technique is at the heart of her teaching. Helping students and young professionals maximize their strengths and abilities while also understanding how to refine their weaknesses is central to her teaching. With the use of clear corrections, helpful analogies and simply a love of sharing the foundations and truth of good technique dancers of every level can make steady progress, fall more deeply in love with the art and gain valuable understanding of themselves and their dancing.

Lara has worked with dancers who have had the opportunity to go on to prestigious summer programs: American Ballet Theater, Ballet Magnificat!, Ballet Met, Bossov Ballet, Boston Ballet, Carolina Ballet, Colorado Ballet, Gelsey Kirkland Academy, Joffrey Ballet, Kansas City Ballet, Miami City Ballet, Milwaukee Ballet, Nashville Ballet, and Pittsburg Ballet Theater.  Students have also become professional dancers working with companies such as Ballet Magnificat!, Ballet Next, Gelsey Kirkland, Grand Rapids Ballet, Jo Hull Dancers, Sarasota Ballet and Soli Deo Gloria Contemporary Ballet.  Others have gone on to study dance collegiately at Anderson University, Belhaven College, Butler University, Hope College, Grandvalley State University, Oklahoma University and Western Michigan University leading them into careers in leadership and the education of dance. And for students who retired from dancing after highschool they have gone on to become Accountants, Architects, Doctors, Lawyers, Missionaries, MOMS! and Teachers to name just a few.