Lauren

When Lauren first opened her inclusive dance studio, I watched with quiet anticipation. We’d known each other in college, but I didn’t know her full story or how she would pull it off. I was intrigued. The logistics, the funding, the scope of her vision. But as time went on, it became clear she was creating something truly meaningful.

I wanted to feature her not just to share MOVE’s mission and the incredible way she empowers her students, but also to show what it looks like when someone follows a calling to serve. Her story is both inspiring and humbling. It’s a reminder that an idea paired with passion and persistence can create real impact. The happy, dancing moments where her students feel fully themselves and accepted, those moments Lauren dreamed of, are truly life changing.

Planting The Seed

Lauren’s roots in dance run deep. She grew up dancing competitively, later joining the University of Southern Mississippi’s dance company. Though she didn’t yet know what it would look like, she knew she wanted to blend dance with purpose, to use movement as a way to connect and uplift others.

After college, she moved to Nashville and worked in the nonprofit world, gaining experience in fundraising and community outreach. But the idea for an inclusive dance program stayed quietly with her. It wasn’t until 2018 that she decided to test the concept. The Project launched as a summer camp for individuals with Down syndrome. The response was overwhelming. Families showed up. Volunteers were moved. And Lauren realized she couldn’t stop there.

MOVE Inclusive Dance began that summer with one clear vision: to create a space where individuals of all abilities could experience the joy of dance and not just as participants, but as the heart of the studio. Lauren saw a gap in the dance world and built something to fill it. A program designed specifically for people with disabilities, where inclusion isn’t just a buzzword — it’s the foundation.

What makes MOVE work is the culture it has created. Classes are structured but flexibility and creativity are always present. Instructors meet students exactly where they are, celebrating progress in all its forms. From the moment dancers walk through the door, they are seen, supported, and encouraged to take up space, not in spite of their differences, but because of them.

A Working Mother

The work Lauren does is deeply rewarding but not without pressure. She leads a team, manages funding, and carries a mission close to her heart, all while balancing life as a wife and mother.

Like many working moms, Lauren navigates the delicate balance between purpose and guilt. She knows her work matters and sees its impact clearly, yet the demands of her roles sometimes pull her in conflicting directions. She’s learning to embrace both — holding gratitude for her calling alongside kindness for herself on the harder days.

Motherhood has profoundly shaped her spiritual journey and her faith, in turn, has deeply influenced how she approaches motherhood. She describes childbirth as one of the most transformative experiences of her life, a moment when she deeply felt the presence of the Holy Spirit. Since then, faith has shown up in the small, quiet moments of parenting, now more woven into her daily life than ever before.

Mental Health

When life feels overwhelming, Lauren doesn’t look for a grand escape. Instead, she returns to simple, grounding practices like slow breaths, a worship playlist, or a whispered prayer. Her favorite moments with her husband aren’t about big plans. They’re found in stillness: a weekend with nothing on the calendar, steaks on the grill, a bottle of good wine, brownies baking in the oven. These small rituals help steady her.

Mental health is an open topic in their home. One lesson that has stayed with Lauren came from her husband, Thomas, who gently encouraged her to shift from “I have to do this” to “I get to do this.” That subtle change in perspective transformed how she approaches her days, and it’s a mindset she now shares with friends and students when they feel stretched thin.

Therapy has also been a key part of Lauren’s journey. In her twenties, anxiety showed up in ways that left her shaken. It wasn’t until a boss pointed her toward a therapist that she began to understand what was really going on. That support was a turning point, helping her move toward healing and reclaim her life.

Friendships have evolved too. While Lauren no longer has time for long dinners or extended meetups, she still makes space for connection. Maybe it’s a quick walk beside another mom or a venting phone call with a friend that ultimately ends when a child needs her attention. But those small moments of connection remind her she doesn’t have to carry everything alone.

The Real Life Behind the Work

At home, her routines are her gentle anchors: a pinch of Baja Gold salt before morning coffee, mouth tape at night for better sleep. If she had a full day to herself, she’d start with a workout and time in the infrared sauna, followed by a healthy lunch, a facial, and a massage. She’d end the day with reality TV and no interruptions, while her husband kisses the kids goodnight.

Her approach to parenting is the same blend of real and thoughtful. Screen time has its place, especially on road trips, which are tough for her son. Chicken nuggets are a staple, but she’ll sneak flaxseeds and hempseeds into mac and cheese or yogurt when she can. Dinner is built around organic meat always on hand (Thanks Costco!) or fresh seafood from her parents. She keeps the base simple to make meal decisions easy.

What Inclusion Really Means

Her down-to-earth philosophy extends into Lauren’s work at MOVE. When inclusion is working, she says, it just feels right. It’s not performative or polished, it’s warm, human, and honest. At MOVE, that shows up in the way students are celebrated for who they are, not what they achieve. Dance becomes a language when words fall short, a way to connect across disability, language, and culture.

She’s seen how much that kind of space matters. Families often walk through the studio doors bracing for rejection, worn down by a world that isn’t always built with them in mind. But here, they’re met with kindness. A knowing look from another parent, a welcoming word from a teacher, a place where their child is not just included, but deeply valued. Sometimes, even just an hour of belonging can be healing.

For Laure, inclusion doesn’t need to be perfect. It’s not about getting everything right. It’s about showing up, being curious, and staying open and respectful.

“Be kind. Be open. Listen. And above all, know this: disability isn’t a bad word. It’s not something to avoid or whisper. It’s normal. It’s human. When we embrace that, we build a community where everyone can belong.”

Disabilities aren’t something to fear or fix, it’s part of the human story, and it deserves to be seen. Embracing it invites us to build communities rooted in acceptance and genuine connection. When we open our hearts to see people fully, beyond labels or limitations, we create a world where everyone truly belongs.

Still Dreaming

Lauren is dreaming again. Building MOVE has been one of the most fulfilling experiences of her life, and she’s beginning to feel that familiar spark to start something new. Even small ideas excite her. She’s always imagining, always creating. And we are here for it.

To support or learn more about MOVE Inclusive Dance, click here.