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 14 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!

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.

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.

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.