Dance professor Laurie Eisenhower has been offering her dance expertise to students at Oakland University for the past 21 years.

Eisenhower’s dance career, which began at age 17, has taken her to New York and California, where she spent time with various companies and other dance professionals, including the Pilobolus Dance Theatre, David Parsons, Chen and Dancers, Harry Streep III, and Mel Wong.

She received both her bachelor and master degrees in dance from Arizona State University.

“I’ve always been a mover … (I) was cartwheeling almost as soon as I could walk,” Eisenhower said. “I think I was attracted to dance because it … allowed me to perform and express myself.”

In 1991, Eisenhower founded the Eisenhower Dance Ensemble, which is known worldwide. She serves as the artistic director for the ensemble.

Eisenhower’s love of teaching has not only been seen at OU and EDE, but in Detroit’s Harbinger Dance Company and BalletMet Columbus.

She has been in charge of directing and choreographing numerous performances with these companies and ensembles.

“I enjoy sharing my passion for dance with others — teaching is a give/take activity,” she said. “You learn as much from the students as they learn from you … To me, life is all about learning.”

Freshman and dance major Brett Wotherspoon hails Eisenhower as being “enthusiastic” and said that her “passion (for dance) beams through her.”

Eisenhower has received numerous awards and grants, which include the Wanda Turk Choreography Award,  Faculty Excellence Award, three Creative Artists grants from state arts foundations,  Women in Art Award for Choreography, Michigan Dance Association Choreographers Festival Award, a Travis Professorship, Faculty Recognition Award, Outstanding Michigan Artist Award and 20 faculty research grants.

“As a teacher, choreographer and artistic director, the moments in the dance studio that keep me coming back are a heartfelt performance, a nuanced gesture, and a sincere connection between the dancers,” Eisenhower said. “… I seek honesty in gesture, honesty in physicality and honesty in expression.”

She is always searching for inspiration in order to create performances that will motivate herself and, in turn, cause the audience to enjoy the performance as much as she does. In order to grow as an artist, Eisenhower believes that finding new methods and approaches to choreography is essential.

“Work hard, believe in yourself, embrace change,” Eisenhower said.

For information on the OU dance program or Eisenhower Dance Ensemble, contact Laurie Eisenhoer at [email protected]

—-Contact staff intern Sarah Blanchette via email at [email protected]