Lauren Byrne

Lauren Byrne – Education Manager

Lauren was raised in Lower Hutt, and completed her professional dance training at the New Zealand School of Dance. After graduating, Lauren created and performed her own dance works in festivals in NZ, China and the UK.

Lauren joined RNZB in 2020 and has since taught over 1,000 students from schools and dance schools across Aotearoa, ranging from ages 2 to 65 and up. These programmes have been a mixture of teaching RNZB repertoire, ballet, and contemporary technique to residencies that focus on choreography that gives students an opportunity to perform to their friends and whānau.

Alongside teaching in schools, Lauren has been facilitating and running the dance workshops held in collaboration with the Department of Corrections | Ara Poutama Aotearoa in men’s and women’s prisons throughout Aotearoa. Over the last few years, there have been a record number of participants and graduates from the programme.

As well as teaching in person, Lauren has been creating online dance content, teaching RNZB repertoire to students all over the country. This has been a highlight for her and a chance to still stay connected with students, especially by receiving videos during the lockdowns of Kiwi kids practicing the dances in their living rooms!

Lauren loves the opportunity to connect with a wide range of communities and share the love of movement throughout Aotearoa.