Lawanda Raines

LaWanda Raines received a BFA in Dance and Choreography fromVirginia Commonwealth University May of 2000. Mrs. Raines has taught studio curriculum for students ages 2 to adult, in diverse socio-economic enviroments. She also teaches and develops community outreach classes for after school programs for K-12, and Integrated Arts teaching strategies, including work with United Way Success by Six, Wolf Trap Educational Programs and Richmond Center Stage Bright Lights Educational Programs, and the Latin Ballet of VA. Through these teaching experiences she learned how to develop successful Dance, and dance theater classes for Exeptional Education Students.Mrs. Raines is an athletic, and dynamic performer and choreographer capable of diverse repertory ranging from fight choreography, intense modern solos, musical theater, and Flamenco. She has worked with artists Fred Ho of Big Red Media Company in New York City, Chris Burnside, African American Repertory Theater, and Antonio Hildalgo Paz of Carlotta Santa Flamenco Vivo and Antonio Gades Foundation, and Catherine Davalos of Davalos Dance Company. LaWanda used her diverse experiences to choreograph Children of Eden (Manchester High School- Ken Nothangle Director, 2004), and 1920’s based Langston’s My Man (AART, Derome Scott Director,2011. She choreographed DHDA (a multi-media work), giving voice the intricacies of working with children with ADHD, was featured in Starr Foster Dance Projects’ 2012 Choreographer’s Showcase. Her studio instruction experience includes Modern, Contemporary Ballet, Hip hop, Latin Jazz and Musical Theater. She is currently, completing her MFA in Dance: Creative Process, and Certificate in Production: Design for Dance at St. Mary's College of California. Mrs. Raines also works on the technical side of theater, designing costumes, lights and scenery.