Darton State College Humanities Division
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Humanities Faculty & Staff
Elizabeth Perkins, Dean
Jennifer LaCuran
Jennifer La Curan is a choreographer, performer, teacher, lighting designer and producer. Jennifer began her training in Southern California at Orange County Dance Center under the direction of Anthony and Terri Sellars and Keith and Linda Clifton. She then attended Academy of the Performing Arts, performing arts high school, in Huntington Beach under Diane Makas. During this time Jennifer danced with the pre-professional ballet company, Ballet Repertory Theatre where she was a soloist. She also worked with Disneyland as a dancer in their parades and shows department. Mrs. La Curan then received her BFA in dance from California State University, Long Beach where she trained with Susan McLain, Karen Clippinger, Keith Johnson, Sophie Monat, Andrew Vaca, Sharon Kinney, Della Davidson, Doug Nielson, Alaine Haubert, Judy Allen, and Pat Finot. She then continued her dance studies at New York University, Tisch School of the Arts where is earned her MFA in dance while studying with Gus Soleman Jr., Pamela Pietro, Andrea Wood, Joy Kellman, Jim Martin, Jolinda Menendez, Jim Sutton, Jaclynn Villamil, Cherylyn Lavagnino, Cassandra Phifer, Phyllis Lamhut, Deborah Jowitt, Patricia Beaman, Kathy Grant, and Kay Cummings.
Jennifer began teaching around the tri-state area while still attending graduate school. She later became a member of the Albano Ballet Company of America in Hartford, CT and she was the chairperson of the Children’s Training Division for their school, the Albano Ballet Academy. Jennifer was also dancing for Momentum Dance Theater in New York City and several other independent choreographers. During her tenure in NYC, Mrs. La Curan established her own contemporary dance company Merge Dance Theatre, whose mission is to merge ballet and modern dance forms in new and creative ways.
After leaving NYC and returning to California, Jennifer began to focus on her Pilates training and teaching and then received her comprehensive Pilates certification from Body Arts and Science International. She continued to teach dance and also was a guest choreographer/teacher for Central Connecticut State University and her alma mater Academy for the Performing Arts. Jennifer began her college teaching career by re-established dance courses in the PE department at Cerro Coso Community College. Mrs. La Curan then joined the adjunct faculty at Moorpark College, where she taught modern dance courses, did choreography and was the dance departments lighting designer.
Jennifer then took a giant leap into the south by becoming the director of dance and assistant professor at Darton College. Darton College had a newly established AA degree in dance and Jennifer has helped develop and grow the department to what it is today. Jennifer is working to help grow Southwest Georgia’s dance community through the college and community work.
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