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. 

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!

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. 

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. 

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!

Levi Carroll born and raised in the South Side of Chicago, started his dance journey with the Professional Theatre and Dance Youth Academy (PTDYA) at the age of 10 allowing him to discover his love and passion for dance, and he hasn’t looked back since. Having stayed with them for approximately 10 years, his desire to learn and grow eventually lead to his time at the Chicago High School for the Arts (ChiArts) where he studied as a Musical Theatre major, during his time there he also participated in an afterschool hip hop focused dance program/group known as Hi-Def lead by Tanji Harper, allowing him access to instruction from some of Chicago’s finest dance instructors and his first real taste of hip hop and its dance culture in Chicago. From there he pursued his passion and love of hip hop dance in various ways, ultimately being able to learn from many Chicago greats such as JC Hopkins, Kris Rhodes, Andre Patterson, Cyx, Pause Eddie, JonQis Fillyaw, Annie Franklin, and Domé Lorusso. Afterwards he began working and teaching with various studios in the Chicago area such as The American Rhythm Center (Arc), The Harold Washington Cultural Center (HWCC), Latin Street, Lou Conte/Hubbard Street Dance Studio, and now Visceral Dance Center as well as Austin Loren Dance Academy Class. 

MJ Wilson, a passionate and skilled dance instructor with several years of experience in teaching various styles such as Hip Hop, Majorette, Heels, and Sensual Movement, among more to a range of age groups. With a strong background in Urban dance styles, MJ has also trained at “The Joffrey Ballet” located here in the heart of Chicago to expand her knowledge and hone her skills to add to her repertoire. She believes in creating an inclusive and supportive environment where students of all levels can explore their creativity, develop their technique, and express themselves through the art of dance. So she prides herself on welcoming diversity into her classes as well as versatility within dance styles to keep students on their toes. With her unwavering passion, MJ is a truly dedicated dance instructor. 

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. 

Travion is an emerging dancer and choreographer. He's been dancing for about 15 years and choreographing for 6 years. Mr Taylor trained/studied many styles of dance. He studied at Alabama State University as a BFA Dance Major. Within the last year Travion has performed with Red Clay Dance Company and Kloud 9 dance team. Being a dancer is a sense of peace for him where he can release what’s needed. Travion wants to continue to grow as a dancer and choreographer.  

Born and raised in Texas now living in Chicago, Trey Starks brings in that deep down south pocket in his movement. With having a rich and extensive amount of training coming from Collegiate/Community teams, conventions and pre professional programs. Trey has developed his artistry and a name for himself. All while still being a traveling teacher across the states sharing his work and knowledge. Staying true with always being a student he strives to bring out the best in whoever shares the room with him.

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.