The Macholah Ballet

Founder, Artistic Director

Lauren Richardson

Lauren has received training from several acclaimed ballet, jazz, and Irish dance instructors, including Peter Frame, Jiri Sebastian Voborsky, Kevin Alan, Daniel Simmons, David Howard, Maxine Olsen, Lester Holmes, Ross Brierton, Ilona Kessell, Janie Parker, Tamara Buel, Ronnie De Marco, Kate Trammell, Oscar Rouseaux, Heather Hawk, Joni Cantrell-Prince, Valery Lantratov, Emily Barry Bodah, Kathy Thibodeaux, Tamara Flores, Sabrina Gidley, and Cristina Maciel.

In 2005, Lauren attended the Royal Academy of Dancing Summer School. In 2006 she studied at Ballet Magnificat!’s School of the Arts, and in 2007 she completed Ballet Magnificat!’s teaching curriculum.

She is a member of American Academy of Ballet and has completed levels five through10 of the American Academy of Ballet’s Performance Awards, receiving a gold with distinction on all levels. She also holds the intermediate certificate with the Royal Academy of Dancing, and received honorable mention in the National Society of Arts and Letters competition.

In 2002, she founded Macholah, a professional Christian ballet company. She now works to help other churches in the area supplement their ministries to include ballet and worship dance

Conditioning Instructor

Elizabeth Bowyer

Elizabeth Bowyer is the Primary Ballet and Conditioning Instructor for The Macholah Ballet.

She has trained for 10 years in all around gymnastics through several acclaimed teachers at the YMCA. She cheered competitively with the River Cities All-Starts for four years under the instruction of Hank Light and Beth Farley. She has also cheered for five years with the Teays Valley Christian School cheerleading team. In 2004 and 2005, she won the National Cheerleading Championships with River Cities All-Stars and has competed in the World Cheerleading Championship.

After retiring from cheerleading, she believes that God is calling her to dance and feels Him moving through her when she worships through dance. Elizabeth has completed one year with The Macholah Ballet and is now excited to be joining The Macholah Ballet staff!

Tap Instructor

Darla Hanna

Darla Hanna is the Tap instructor for The Macholah Ballet.

Darla began her training in Ballet, Tap, and Jazz at the age of 4 in Long Beach, Mississippi. She had the opportunity to train under several wonderful dance instructors in Slidell, LA, O’Fallon, IL and Milton, WV.

After several years of being away from dance, Darla again had the opportunity to dance with The Macholah Ballet in 2008.

Darla has a passion for the art of tap dancing and is thankful for the opportunity to teach Tap for The Macholah Ballet in the 2009-2010 Season.

She is looking forward to developing a strong Tap program and sharing her heart for the world of Tap with her students!