Laura Vernaci

Laura is a Kansas City native, who began dancing at age 5 and started training at Kansas City Ballet at age 14. She apprenticed with the company her senior year of high school, performing in Todd Bolender’s The Nutcracker and Giselle. She also studied on scholarship at American Ballet Theatre, Charlotte Ballet, and The Jillana School. She continued her dance education at Butler University in Indianapolis, IN, performing with Butler Ballet in productions including Sleeping Beauty, Swan Lake, and The Nutcracker. In her last year of college, Laura was offered a company contract with Minnesota Ballet. She toured in Allen Fields’ The Nutcracker, and performed in ballets such as Coppelia, Cinderella, George Balanchine’s Who Cares?, and Antony Tudor’s Little Improvisations, as well as world premieres by Robert Gardner and Penelope Freeh. Laura has taught ballet and pointe technique for more than 10 years at various studios throughout the country. She has also choreographed for school performances, dance competitions, and pageants, and has trained in numerous other styles, including jazz, modern, contemporary, tap, flamenco, and folk. She is honored and excited to return to Kansas City Ballet to share her love and knowledge of dance with current students.