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Dance Contributor
Laura Vernaci is a Kansas City native who has always been passionate about the arts, particularly dance. She began dance lessons at the young age of five and hasn't stopped since. She trained at the Kansas City Ballet where she became a serious dancer and learned about a professional company.
She attended Butler University in Indianapolis, IN where she majored in dance. She transferred to Truman State University in Kirksville, MO in 2006 and received a degree in Journalism in May 2008. Laura spent the 2008-2009 in Duluth, MN dancing professionally for the Minnesota Ballet. She performed in productions such as, "The Nutcracker," "Cinderella" and "Coppelia" as well as world premier ballets created on the company.
She recently moved back to Kansas City and is excited to combine her experience in writing with her passion for dance. In addition to performing and writing, Laura also enjoys teaching dance and choreographing.
Wed, Sep 29, 2010
Wylliams/Henry Contemporary Dance Company’s fall program was all about the music. The company paired up with Kansas City’s own Bill Shapiro to tribute his long-standing radio program which began in 1978 on KCUR-FM.
Tue, Sep 08, 2009
Dance in the Park, a collaboration between the city and community dance companies, invites residents to participate and pay tribute to dance on Saturday, September 12.
Mon, Sep 28, 2009
Quixotic has succeeded in exploring new dimensions of dance, music and design, but what really made that first performance unique was that it was stripped of all distractions. There were no chairs, no fancy ceilings, no stuffy surroundings. It was literally a blank canvas that was transformed before the spectators' eyes.
Tue, Feb 09, 2010
Throughout the performance, Pilobolus demonstrated great versatility and an unbelievable connection to each other. They redefined partnering with two, or more, people acting as one seamlessly and effortlessly. Overall, they lived up to the bar the company has set for itself over the years with its edgy, individual approaches and aesthetics.
Tue, Oct 20, 2009
Kansas City Ballet's first performance of its 52nd season offered a mix of everything - two classical excerpts, a contemporary pas de deux and a local favorite. Audience members who did their homework knew they were in for a treat because three of the four pieces were Kansas City Ballet premieres.
Mon, Oct 26, 2009
Trey McIntyre frequently creates works meant to be ambiguous and open-ended so audience members can finish the story he began and create personal experiences.
Mon, Oct 26, 2009
Interaction with the audience and a strong technical foundation are what made Rasta Thomas; Bad Boys of Dance a hit. There were no outrageous costumes, lighting or props and no hidden meanings or over performed full-length ballets. It was just dance – new, distinctive and interesting.
Tue, Nov 17, 2009
Paul Taylor dancers are known for their incredible strength and stamina. They have the ability to be completely grounded and yet remain graceful, creating signature lines and unique shapes.
Tue, Nov 17, 2009
Todd Bolender's vision of a permanent and prominent building for the Kansas City Ballet is no longer dancing in people's heads - it is coming true. Soon the Todd Bolender Center for Dance and Creativity will be a vision for all of Kansas City and the world to see and visit.
Tue, Dec 22, 2009
Kansas City Ballet's "The Nutcracker" is a timeless, classic production and has become a well-deserved local Christmas tradition. For the most part, the production remains the same from year to year - Tchaikovsky's score and Todd Bolender's choreography - even the scenery and costumes haven't changed much in the past several years. What makes each performance unique and exciting - or not - is the performer's interpretations. A dance review.
Wed, Jan 20, 2010
Think of Gregory Hines and you think of tap dancing. He brought excitement, nostalgia and the itch to tap at the Carlsen Center last Saturday night. Of course, the late great hoofer was not actually there, but his legacy was close at heart.
Tue, Jan 26, 2010
KC native Winston Dynamite Brown, a member of the phenomenal Pilobolus Dance Theatre, discusses the journey that brings him back next weekend to perform at the Lied Center.
Wed, Mar 03, 2010
The KC Ballet covered all the bases in its winter repertoire performance Thursday night at the Lyric Theatre. The Midwestern company, which is making a national name for itself, offered selections of ballet, contemporary, African and modern in a diverse showing.
Mon, Mar 08, 2010
The Foundation, known for its unique art gallery and architectural exhibits, hosted the Wylliams/Henry Contemporary Dance Company's winter program last Friday night. The unconventional venue and alternative works were a move in a different direction for this local Company.
Tue, Mar 16, 2010
For a piece that premiered more than 50 years ago, the Martha Graham Dance Company's "Clytemnestra" remains energetic, interesting and dramatic.
Tue, Apr 20, 2010
The best two works of the night were saved for the end - just like the biggest loops and scariest turns come at the end of an amusement park ride, leaving you wanting more and more...
Tue, Apr 27, 2010
The Owen/Cox Dance Group performed in front of a full house last Saturday night at the City Stage Theater at Union Station. Although the audience was a small one, everyone gathered in the intimate theater seemed to thoroughly enjoy themselves. The project was certainly unique and the creative minds behind it fashioned an imaginative interpretation of an historical event falling face first into a classic story.
Wed, May 12, 2010
The Kansas City Ballet presented a fanfare last Thursday evening for the opening performance of their Spring Performance. The program consisted of four very different works; including two brand new contemporary creations, a classical pas de deux from the Ballet's earliest days, and a KC Ballet premiere of a jazzy favorite.
Tue, May 25, 2010
Last weekend the Wylliams/Henry Contemporary Dance Company presented a standout spring program. They offered up styles from modern to contemporary and even some Southern grooves. Showing off diversity and adept storytelling ability, the Company exhibited what they do best.
Sat, Dec 18, 2010
It was fun to say goodbye to the traditional and expected concepts for a night, and embrace this classic tale with a delightful and touching twist.
Wed, Jun 30, 2010
When I walked into the Madrid Theatre several Saturday nights ago, the hazy dream-like atmosphere enveloped me immediately. Whether left over from the first show of that evening or purposely positioned to alter people’s mood, the smoke and visual surroundings set the tone for Quixotic Fusion's summer production, "Paix Reveuse."
Mon, Jul 12, 2010
Tall and slender, elegant and athletic, Alicia Graf Mack moved easily and effortlessly, commanding attention - not verbally, but physically. She spoke in a moderate tone, as if conversing with a group of friends, and smiled comfortably, enjoying the moment that she was in.
Sun, Oct 17, 2010
Kansas City Ballet began its last year in the Lyric strongly, and has set a high bar for the remainder of the season. "Slaughter on Tenth Avenue" got the audience laughing, clapping and tapping their feet to Richard Rodgers’ catchy show tune.
Tue, Oct 26, 2010
Second company does not always mean second tier. Houston Ballet II is set to dazzle and amaze in their KC debut on Oct. 30.
Wed, Nov 10, 2010
"Poetry in motion" is a common phrase. But what about "physics in motion?" Armitage Gone! Dance explored the Big Bang, Theory of Relativity, quantum mechanics, and string theory through their expressive dance.
Tue, Nov 16, 2010
With a grab bag evening of 10 pieces of modern and jazz elements, Kacico's fall program, "Transition," was strong conceptually yet lacked conviction.
Tue, Jan 11, 2011
The human body is capable of magnificent beauty when set in motion and coupled with music. The talented dancers of Kansas City and visiting touring groups are poised to dazzle with their aesthetic athleticism in their spring's performances.
Sun, Dec 19, 2010
Tchaikovsky's "Nutcracker" is a holiday staple and rightly so. Filled with lovely music and infinitely danceable, the Kansas City Ballet continues to delight with their annual staging of this enduring tale.
Tue, Nov 01, 2011
The Owen/Cox Dance Group began the 2011–12 season Saturday night at a new location and in the company of a new group of musicians from Park University's International Center for Music.
Tue, Jan 18, 2011
The human body is capable of magnificent beauty when set in motion and coupled with music. The talented dancers of Kansas City and visiting touring groups are poised to dazzle with their aesthetic athleticism in their spring's performances.
Tue, Feb 01, 2011
Presenting four works from his company's 42-year history for the Johnson County Community College Performing Arts Series, Lar Lubovitch's works are vital, engaging, and thrilling.
Tue, Feb 08, 2011
Eleven choreographers tested their mettle in City in Motion's annual "A Modern Night at the Folly." Covering personal stories, cultural demonstrations, and abstract conceptions these local choreographers presented a compelling evening of dance.
Sat, Mar 12, 2011
The Kansas City Ballet recreates another audience favorite in Adolphe Adam's "Giselle." With striking performances by the two solo dancers, they captured the joys of love and despair of heartbreak.
Wed, Apr 06, 2011
Chicago-based Joffrey Ballet brought 41 dancers to jeté, arabesque, and all other manner of poetic bodily motion across the stage at Yardley Hall as part of the Johnson County Community College Performing Arts Series.
Fri, May 06, 2011
The Kansas City Ballet grandly ends its tenure at the Lyric Theatre with a the world premiere of William Whitener's "Mercy of the Elements," the Kansas City premiere of Jerome Robbins' "Moves," and Twyla Tharp's mammoth "Catherine Wheel Suite."
Tue, May 10, 2011
At the Folly Theatre, the Harriman-Jewell Series ended its season with an innovative and crowd-pleasing blend of theatre and dance courtesy of The Aluminum Show.
Tue, May 17, 2011
Performing just eight works from the ensemble's twenty-year history barely scratches the surface of Wylliams/Henry Contemporary Dance Company's vibrant and vital repertory.
Wed, Jul 20, 2011
Roxy Paine's "Ferment" on display on the grounds of the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art has become a favorite subject of local composers and choreographers. Owen/Cox Dance Group is the most recent to interpret the massive stainless steel sculpture into dance.
Sat, Jul 30, 2011
As Rodgers and Hammerstein's only musical written for television, "Cinderella" has has been transported off the screen and onto stages numerous times. Starlight Theatre's production is another such attempt. As the theatre's second self-produced show of the season, it's a delight for all ages who dare to dream the impossible.
Tue, Aug 23, 2011
Kansas Citians look forward to what the art of dance will bring in fall 2011, both from local groups and touring ensembles. For a preview of what is to come over the next couple of months, look inside, and be sure to mark your calendars in advance.
Mon, Sep 19, 2011
Dance contributor Laura Vernaci explored the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts on Sunday. From the parking garage to entry space to the two striking halls, she hailed the KCPA as a "world-class venue."
Wed, Oct 05, 2011
Now in their twentieth season, Wylliams/Henry Contemporary Dance Company presented its fall concert to enthusiastic fans. The program featured a number of selections with passionate, culturally inspired choreography. The company also shared some exciting news of future projects.
Tue, Oct 18, 2011
In 1876, the same year that Swan Lake debuted in Moscow, Mark Twain published one of his greatest novels, "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer." Over a century later, Tony Award-winning composer Maury Yeston had a vision of an all-American ballet. Yeston called on William Whitener to help accomplish the project. Their vision, "Tom Sawyer—A Ballet in 3 Acts," debuted on Friday at the new Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts.
Wed, Nov 09, 2011
UMKC Conservatory Dance Division gathered Thursday night to present its fall concert. The predominantly female program featured works by two greats, Antony Tudor and August Bournonville, as well as guest choreographer Jamal Story and the UMKC faculty.
Tue, Nov 22, 2011
Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre’s four-day, five-performance series was presented by Kansas City Friends of Alvin Ailey at the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts. Friday’s program began with the newest work of the four, each one showcasing a different genre and strength of the company.
Wed, Dec 07, 2011
Kansas City Ballet sets the scene for the holiday season on a new stage at the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts. Staying true to previous Artistic Director Todd Bolender’s vision, the troupe's annual production of "The Nutcracker" has remained the same but ticket sales have shattered all past records.
Wed, Jan 04, 2012
Dance aficionados will have many options to choose from in the spring 2012 including offerings from the Kansas City Ballet, Wylliams/Henry Contemporary Dance Company, Owen/Cox Dance Group, native son David Parsons, and other visiting troupes.
Wed, Feb 01, 2012
The signature dance company from native son David Parsonsolidified its favored status in the Harriman-Jewell Series on a night when it commemorated the series’ founder, Richard Harriman.
Mon, Feb 20, 2012
The most famous tale of love and tragedy has been told through various media: on page, in theatre, on screen, and on stage. The Kansas City Ballet's "Romeo and Juliet" transcends the poetic words most famously penned by Shakespeare.
Tue, Feb 21, 2012
At its annual “A Modern Night at the Folly,” City in Motion showcased a lineup of established and new artists, some more inspiring than others.
Tue, Mar 20, 2012
Friday night at the Helzberg Hall of the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts, Red Star Red Army Chorus and Dance Ensemble celebrated its 20th year of touring in the United States. The Harriman-Jewell Series hosted the troupe in its inaugural touring season in 1992 and brought them back this year in its celebratory season.
Wed, Apr 04, 2012
In Harriman-Jewell’s penultimate season offering, the talented contemporary company delights with an evening of three powerful and sincere pieces by Jorma Elo, Jiri Kylián, and Nicolo Fonte.
Tue, Apr 03, 2012
Missouri Contemporary Ballet, the young, Columbia-based troupe, revealed just how far it has come in six years with a diverse program of six works by Karen Mareck Grundy, Shannon Lee Wann, and Autumn Eckman.
Tue, May 01, 2012
The Performing Arts Series at Johnson County Community College welcomed the Moscow Festival Ballet as the final act of its season, with charming and cheering results that overshadowed a few missteps.
Wed, May 02, 2012
After twenty years of association with the Kansas City Ballet, corps veteran Kimberly Cowen is ready to hang up her pointe shoes as she embarks on her next journey, serving as Principal Teacher and Associate Director of the Kansas City Ballet School and Director of the Kansas City Youth Ballet. KCMetropolis' Laura Vernaci spoke with Cowen about her storied dance career and upcoming endeavors.
Wed, May 09, 2012
The final series of the Kansas City Ballet’s 54th season, "Masters of American Dance," brings four excellently presented masterpieces to the Muriel Kauffman Theatre.
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