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!

Hope has always been a creative, free spirited person. Living in her own world, with a vision of exceeding in everything God has and not settling for anything less, especially, with growing up in Chicago. 

Hope Sophia started her career as a professional dancer/choreographer when she was 15 years old. She has danced in fashion shows, music videos, performed with artists like Gorgon City, Kanye West, Twista, Ann Marie, the list goes on. Over the years her resume has expanded tremendously. From modeling and doing commercials for brands like ‘New Balance’ & ‘AKIRA” to acting in tv shows like “The Chi” & “Empire”. 

Hope's goal is to inspire the world and dominate in everything that she does! Everyday is one step closer to creating the life she's always envisioned. 

Lawrence is a dancer, teacher, and choreographer from Chicago. Since 2009, he has trained in various genres of dance, including ballet, hip-hop, contemporary, tap, modern, African, jazz, and Latin. After attending ChiArts, he began his journey into street dance while also teaching and performing with Chicagoland studios, companies, and events. Additionally to being an Eagle Scout, he’s a photographer, musician, producer, and founder of The Kinetic Collective. He strives to push himself and others around him in new, innovative, and creative ways to further the growth of the Chicago dance community!

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. 

KaiLisha is a dedicated dance instructor and performer with a deep passion for movement and self-expression. Trained in ballet, contemporary, and heels, she brings a unique blend of classical precision and modern artistry to every class she teaches. With a foundation rooted in ballet technique, KaiLisha emphasizes alignment, strength, and musicality, helping dancers build a strong technical base. Her contemporary classes invite creativity and emotional connection, while her heels sessions empower students to move with confidence, grace, and authenticity. KaiLisha’s teaching philosophy centers on creating an inclusive, supportive environment where dancers of all levels can explore their potential, refine their craft, and discover their unique voice through movement. Her goal is to inspire every student to not only grow as a dancer but also to connect more deeply with themselves and their artistry. KaiLisha is a dynamic dance instructor and performer known for her versatility and expressive artistry across ballet, heels, and contemporary styles. Drawing from a foundation in classical ballet, she emphasizes technique, body awareness, and musicality while encouraging dancers to explore their individuality and emotional expression through movement. Her contemporary classes focus on fluidity, storytelling, and connection to the music, while her heels sessions empower dancers to embrace confidence, balance, and precision. Through her teaching, KaiLisha creates an inclusive, inspiring environment where students of all levels can grow both technically and creatively 

Karen Boggs in the owner of Stay Kay Fit. Her passion is to help people change how they feel from the inside out. By changing your lifestyle. Karen believe everyone deserves to live a healthy life. She started her fitness journey in 2017 where she quickly developed a passion. Since then Ms Boggs have been dedicated to helping people get to their best selves. Her focus is cardio and weight loss. Karen is a ISSA Certified Group Instructor. She cares deeply about her clients, and helping them through their fitness journey. Being an athlete all her life helped her drive to get back to who she once was and how how she once felt. Along with the skills Karen has developed to help her design different programs for her clients to gain realistic body and nutrition goals. 

Raynner Garcia, an Afro-Dominican artist raised in the Bronx, New York, was a singer, dancer, actor, and choreographer whose work was deeply influenced by his Hispanic culture and the world around him. He was the recipient of the Ruth Kurtzman Benefit Series Award from the Manhattan Association of Cabarets and worked as a Production Assistant with Cabaret on the Couch. Raynner performed at both the New York and Orlando Salsa Congresses and earned his BFA in Musical Theatre Performance from Columbia College Chicago, Class of 2026. His choreography was featured in the Spring 2023 Student Performance Night, and he served as a student producer and choreographer for the inaugural Musical Theatre Student Showcase, part of the Dance Presenting Series’ 50th Anniversary Season. He also served as the first Producer Apprentice for the Dance Presenting Series at Columbia College Chicago. Additionally, Raynner produced and directed his acclaimed production Piel Canela, served as Artistic Director for Arts in the Dark: The Parade, and taught as a Dance Instructor at Austin Lo’Ren. As an educator, Raynner’s teaching philosophy centered on authenticity, cultural expression, and empowerment through movement. He believed that dance and theatre were not only forms of artistic expression but also tools for self-discovery and community building. His classes encouraged students to embrace their cultural roots, explore rhythm as a form of storytelling, and find freedom in vulnerability. Through his guidance, Raynner sought to create inclusive spaces where every body, background, and story had value, fostering artists who moved with both purpose and pride.