Lauren Martinez (CEO)

Lauren Martinez is a dancer from Chicago, IL. She began studying tap at the age of 7. Her love for dance grew into a passion by her teenage years and she expanded her studies at Columbia College in 2003. There, she studied Ballet, Hip-Hop, African and Latin dance. For the past 18 years, Lauren has had the opportunity to study and teach in such respected dance cities as New York, Chicago, New Orleans and Orlando. Workshops with Debbie Allen, Laurianne Gibson, Dave Scott, Mr. Wiggles and "Crazy Leg" have helped enhance her skill to be able to teach a wide demographic of dance students. She has taught over 7000 students throughout the course of her dance career.

Ms. Martinez has worked with an extensive list of artists: Janet Jackson and Jon Bon Jovi for the Oprah Show, Mya, Twista, Beenie Man, Usher to name a few. Professionally, Lauren has toured as a dancer/choreographer and has been embedded in the majority of Chicago's professional dance scene. Her goal is to pass on her love and her knowledge of dance to Chicago's youth. 

Austin Lo’ren Dance Academy was a longtime dream for Lauren Martinez  (Choreographer and Dance Instructor ) who wanted to bring the artistry of dance to South loop and the Chicagoland surrounding communities.  Opening Austin Lo’ren Dance Academy has been an exciting endeavor as she shares her love and passion of artful dance with children as young as 1 year old and adults alike emphasizing technique, discipline, and commitment.  They specialize in Ballet, Modern/Contemporary, Jazz, Tap, and Hip Hop, Yoga, including adult Fitness for those students who want to advance their technique and/or just to get in shape.  As they begin their six season having served over 1500 families and hosting 20-25 classes per week in the South Loop. 

MANIFESTO:Through Austin Lo'ren Dance Academy, our desire is to foster a learning environment for dancers ages 1 through adults. We believe that dance is an important tool for expression and growth. Dance is a transcendent outlet-a language that all people can speak. Austin Lo'ren intends to give back to the community through free performances at local nursing homes, hospitals and community outreach events, while also providing dancers frequent opportunities to perform for both large and small audiences.

Austin Lo'ren Dance Academy is a premier dance facility in Chicago, providing the best in skilled instruction to prepare our dancers for top competition and a life enhanced by dance!

Artrell Brown was born and raised in Gary, IN, where he studied vocal arts at the Wirt Emerson Visual & Performing Arts Academy. He then transferred to the Hammond Academy For The Performing Arts and began his dance studies with Kathleen Dominiak Treasure. Artrell is a 2-time national medalist for the NAACP ACT-SO competition in modern dance. During the ACT-SO competition, he danced for choreographers Anthony Burrell and Raianna Brown in numerous pieces of choreography. Artrell began his instructive journey with The Lakeshore School Of Performing Arts, where he taught Ballet, Jazz, Hip Hop, and Contemporary styles. Artrell has recently graduated from the CLI Conservatory under the direction of Teddy Forance. At the conservatory, he worked with choreographers such as Marlee Hightower, Shannon Lewis, Lucy Vallely, Brian Nicholson, Micaela Taylor, and Lloyd Knight. Artrell has also starred in films directed and choreographed by Nina Mcneely, “She Dreamt Alone” and Andrew Winghart, “Is Anyone Receiving The Date?”.

With Artrell being back home he has served as an apprentice with Winifred Haun and Dancers, taught modern at Ballet 5:8, and fulfilled his duties as the Ballet Instructor at Ailey Camp Chicago. Artrell is delighted to be sharing his art and what he has learned with his community now working as a freelance choreographer. 

Brandon Avery spent 12 years of self-instruction in urban dance techniques until he joined ClearVision Dance Team in 2006. Avery took his first formal dance technique course at his alma mater, Knox College, and thereafter studied numerous dance techniques from artists such as Yanis Marshall, Caitlin Gray, Dereque Whiturs of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, and institutions such as Chicago Multicultural Dance School, Gus Giordano Dance School, and Ballethnic Academy of Dance. 

Avery has performed with Ballethnic Dance Company, Red Clay Dance, Joel Hall Dancers, Anthony Burrell’s Project AB, Praize Productions, Inc, Nejla Yatkin, Blake Martin Productions, Miss Continental Pageantry System, Shalamar, Katie Got Bandz, and MTV2. He has choreographed works for Donavan “Korporate” Price, Drew Sidora, DomoMoon, and Praize Productions, Inc. Avery has instructed at Rhythma Studios, Ballethnic Academy of Dance, Red Clay Dance Academy, Emory University, Dance 101, and Dyett High School for the Arts. 

Currently, he is a company member for the Hiplet Ballerinas, a dancer for Mikey Everything and the Haus of Everything, choreographer for Aya Ito, an academy instructor for Praize Productions, Inc., and the founder/instructor of Hips & Heels by Brandon Avery™. Brandon Avery is a native South Holland, IL.

Chasati began training with Mayfair Academy at the age of five. Early on, she developed a strong commitment to the craft and a desire to choreograph. In her youth, Chasati had the opportunity to study under several programs including: Gallery 37, Muntu Dance Theatre, Alvin Ailey Dance Theater and The Joffrey Ballet of Chicago. During her tenure at Bowling Green State University, she co-founded Prima Dance Ensemble which focused on the lyrical, hip-hop and jazz genres. Post college, she became a principal instructor at Flirty Girl Fitness Chicago, where she taught lap dance, sexy hip-hop, chair dance, pole dance and strip tease. Chasati’s accolades include performing with Drew Sidora, serving as the opening act for Drake and choreographing and performing with Jeremih. She recently transitioned into entrepreneurship and founded Class with Chas (CWC) which specializes in signature classes and private parties combined with at-your-service dance demonstration for any person celebrating a special occasion or simply put, their independence and sexuality. By day, you can catch Chasati in the friendly skies with American Airlines serving up a Coke with a smile!

JaNiah Cooper is a dancer, choreographer, photographer, and filmmaker from the south side of Chicago. Her passion for dance began at the young age of 2. Despite being forced to wear braces on her legs as a toddler, JaNiah continued to dance and break barriers from an early age. JaNiah always knew she wanted to be a professional dancer and expressed her purpose was to create. Her passion for dance was propelled while attending dance conferences, competitions, intensives, and various classes as a child. She attended the Chicago Highschool for the Arts as a dance major. After graduating, JaNiah moved to Easthampton Massachusetts, to continue her training. She went on to be a part of the inaugural class of CLI Conservatory: a 9-month pre-professional training program for commercial dance under the direction of Teddy Forance. While at the CLI Conservatory, JaNiah choreographed, danced, directed, and edited her debut film Sunken: Audiences and critics left rave reviews after her electrifying film "Sunken" premiered. Dance Magazine notes that she melds artistry and social action in Sunken, In 2022, she signed with BlocLA Talent Agency. She is a recent faculty member for Dance Church. JaNiah has grown to become a mastermind in front and behind the camera. She strives to create breathtaking multi-disciplinary works of art that mimic the beauty of life and nature.Brandon Avery spent 12 years of self-instruction in urban dance techniques until he joined ClearVision Dance Team in 2006. Avery took his first formal dance technique course at his alma mater, Knox College, and thereafter studied numerous dance techniques from artists such as Yanis Marshall, Caitlin Gray, Dereque Whiturs of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, and institutions such as Chicago Multicultural Dance School, Gus Giordano Dance School, and Ballethnic Academy of Dance. 

Keanna Harris currently known as Keeks is an accomplished Dancer, Choreographer, Actor, Model and Mentor. Teaching throughout the entire Chicago land area; She works to engage and inspire youth and adults to explore and master their creative bodies. Keeks works as a dancer, choreographer, and coach for concerts, videos, movies, competitions, personal dance training, personal fitness training, and theatre.

With 14 years of experience, Keeks is the founder and owner of Keeks Chofit, a choreography, and fitness-based company. Keeks Chofit serves youth choreography and fitness classes called Chofit Academy and Adult training called Chofit Body. Keeks is best known as an Urban Contemporary Artist, well-versed in Hip Hop, African, Afro-Beat, Ballet, Jazz, Street Jazz, Lyrical, Modern-Contemporary, Burlesque, Heels, and Pantomime. She also trains individuals in yoga, pilates, group fitness, Zumba, strength training, flexibility, step aerobics, and tumbling for private classes, group classes, and personal training.

Her work includes but is not limited to being a fitness instructor for adults at the Inferno: Dance and Barre studio residing on the SouthSide. An 8-year Teacher and Dance Instructor for Middle School Students at Holy Family School on the Westside, an athletic coach and choreographer for Mystic Elite dance studios, and a Kuumba lynx arts facilitator on the Northside of Chicago for teenage and young adults.

While instructing freelance classes for events, schools, studios, and programs, Keeks has led her competition team to win 13 first-place awards and trophies in their first season. She has created several dance departments in Chicago school districts. Keeks has solely choreographed several productions including a 12-piece 1930s Harlem renaissance production called Dirty ’30s, selling out all 4 nights. Studying under the likes of Muntu, Deeply rooted, Northern Illinois, and many profound organizations and directors. Keeks continues to explore and strengthen the creative body. She strives to learn, create and inspire as so many have inspired her through dance and fitness.

Shontè Jackson, performance artist and choreographer born & raised in Cincinnati, Ohio. In both grade school and high school, Shontè trained in street style Hip-Hop and Hip-Hop Majorette within her community. During that time she became Captain of her Hip-Hop Majorette team, Q-Kidz, performing at events like Celebrate Brooklyn and casted as “Madison” for a dance film, nominated at Sundance Film Festival entitled, “The Fits Film”. Also during that time, she competed and performed at events in areas such as Ohio, Tennessee, Mississippi, Indiana, Louisiana, Michigan, and Georgia. 

Shontè later attended Eastern Michigan University (EMU), where she trained in collegiate Hip-Hop and Contemporary Movement with EMU’s Diversion Dance Troupe. While there, she became Co-president being responsible for performing and creating choreography. Soon after that, Shontè began to start her freelance career as a choreographer teaching at many different dance studios and dance companies within the Midwest and judging national Hip-Hop and Majorette dance competitions. 

While continuing her freelance career as a choreographer, Shontè joined the Ballroom Scene Community where she competes and performs in the dance style, Vogue. Shontè now has been successfully training and competing in the Ballroom Scene since 2021, in areas such as Detroit, Chicago, New York, Atlanta, and more. 

These many facets of work and trainings have led Shontè to many opportunities such as performing in Chicago’s 2023 Lollapalooza and participating in collaborations such as Lace to Liberation x Adidas. 

Currently, Shontè is continuing her freelance work as a choreographer and performance artist between Chicago, IL and New York City. 

Sylvia Love, more known as Love, is a choreographer, dancer and freelance hair stylist originally from the south side of Chicago. Love has been dancing since the age of 3 and is rooted in ballet and technical training from Russell Talbert Dance Studio. She started her hip hop journey in 2017 with a program formerly known as Hi Def Dance Ensemble run by instructor Tanji Harper, her still current instructor/mentor. She attended Whitney M Younng Magnet High school where she participated briefly in poms, and graduated being in the dance department, receiving competition, contemporary, African and jazz training. Love choreographed her first piece her sophomore year of high school and has since choreographed multiple pieces. After high school, she went to Coe College for two years and there she revamped the schools dance team and was their head choreographer. Since returning back home in 2022, Love has been training in hip hop, choreographing, teaching children, and began building her gig resume.