Laren Cavicchio is cross-trained in ballet, tap, modern contemporary, and jazz, and has continued her education in these genres for the last four decades. In the last two decades, along with keeping up with her own dance training, she has also pursued and obtained ongoing education in exercise science and kinesiology, and has added American Rhythm, Smooth, and Latin to her repertoire.
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Laren created the CDT program to give dancers an opportunity to experience her unique and personalized teaching and coaching methods, carefully mastered for over 28 years, in a classroom and workshop-style setting. She is considered an expert in her field when it comes to technical training, and her holistic and integrated methods combine her education and experience in dance as well as her knowledge in exercise science to help dancers achieve their goals.
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She works with different types of dancers, and knows that no two dancers are alike. She works with competitive dancers, ages 7-21, who achieve scholarships at dance conventions and national intensives, earn high scores and recognition at regional and national competitions, and are selected to perform in closing shows and as demonstrators.
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She works with ballroom competitors of all ages, and helps them acquire strength in their frame and confidence in their footwork, while she works with ballroom champions in between competitions to help them maintain flexibility and conditioning that leads to an injury-resistant dancer.
She also works with dancers who are not competing in the traditional competition circuit, but who wish to refine and advance their skills to perform better in classes and gain confidence in their skills should they choose to audition for color guard, winter guard, or any dance team during high school and college.
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Dancers who have trained with Laren have been accepted into dance programs and on dance teams at: University of Florida, State University of Florida, Central University of Florida, University of South Florida, and Alabama State University, and have earned partial or full scholarships at the Joffrey Ballet School, and the
American Musical and Dramatic Arts Academy in Los Angeles.
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Her younger students have gone on to be invited to participate in the Patel Conservatory Youth Ballet in Tampa and have felt prepared for each audition, class, and role, and some have gone on to receive partial scholarships to Boston Ballet School's Summer Dance Program (audition only).
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Those who wished to perform at theme parks and cruise lines were successful in obtaining employment, and felt prepared every step of the way.
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As a choreographer, Laren has produced over 130 pieces encompassing different dance styles, and has produced and directed full-length productions of The Nutcracker while residing in Florida.
She continues to coach and choreograph for dancers in the Tampa Bay area who wish to compete at competitions and showcase their best skills during auditions, and has worked as a guest educator in Magnet Performing Arts schools in Tampa Bay and Orlando. Since 2020, she has coached dancers as far as the UK and Canada, and in different parts of the United States in an online setting.
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Laren is a member of the International Association for Dance Medicine & Science, participates in conferences hosted by NDEO and its Florida Chapter, is certified in Ballet through Dance Masters of America, and certified in fitness and corrective biomechanics through the American Council on Exercise, an NCCA-Accredited Certification. She is proud to be considered a leader in her field while representing movement and dance pedagogy.
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Her undergraduate education (beyond dance classes) came from professors at Stony Brook University (SUNY) and UMASS Amherst, where coursework included dance theory, history and technique, the Feldenkrais Method, Labanotation, Bartenieff Fundamentals, the Alexander Technique, the Stanislavski Method for actors, as well as psychology, childhood development, and business.
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She also had a unique opportunity to be exposed to, and study, multiple ballet methodologies during college and after, which included the French, Vaganova, Balanchine, Cecchetti, RAD, and ABT techniques.
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She completed her degree in Theatre at UMASS Amherst while on full scholarship for talent and academic achievement, and graduated Cum Laude. Laren later achieved her MBA (also Cum Laude), and used her knowledge to help non-profits and small businesses achieve their goals.
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Laren leads by example and advocates for ongoing dance education by belonging to dance organizations, and attending dance classes offered to professionals. Class offerings include ballet, modern, contemporary, and jazz, and she has actively sought classes in tap, musical theatre, and jazz funk/street jazz. She does this not only to feel inspired, but to remember what it's like to be a dancer in class.
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Please browse through our pages to see what is being offered.
We have something for everyone!
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In addition to her professional work, Laren has volunteered more than 3,800 hours of service and leadership in public schools, charter schools, senior centers, non-profits, and animal shelters, and has been honored with the Presidential Service Award in 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023. She believes strongly in the power of philanthropy and community, and is proud to be part of the charitable work she supports.
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