The story of Stagesmith Dance Training™

Welcome! My name is Lauren Renck Manning, founder of Stagesmith Dance Training. I wear many costumes; professional dancer, Dance Magazine team member, and educator. For many years as a military spouse, I split my time between New York City and Anywhere, USA. Every time I found myself in a new state I was searching for new opportunities within the dance community. I was teaching here, performing there, forging fragmented experiences into a dance career.

It was from this experience Stagesmith Dance Training was launched. My mission is to provide dancers with a piece of the puzzle as they craft their own careers in dance. Through workshops, intensives, and 1:1 dance training it is my hope to spark a life-long love for dance and ignite the technique and passion needed to forge a dream into reality.

Originally from Pennsylvania, Lauren Renck Manning was a scholarship student at the Pennsylvania Governor’s School for the Arts. She continued her dance education at Elon University and earned a B.F.A. in Dance Performance & Choreography. Lauren has studied at various training programs including the Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet, the Rockette Summer Intensive, Code 3 with Complexions Contemporary Ballet, and the American College Dance Festival.

For nine holiday seasons, Lauren has performed as a Rockette in The Christmas Spectacular starring the Rockettes. She has worked with Tony Award-winning choreographer, Warren Carlyle, in the preproduction of The New York Spring Spectacular. She has also appeared on NBC's July 4th Fireworks Spectacular performing the work of Emmy Award-winning choreographer Mia Michaels. Lauren has appeared with the Rockettes on the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, LIVE! With Kelly and Ryan, The Ellen DeGeneres Show, The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, and The Today Show.

When she is not performing, Lauren is a guest instructor, teaching at studios across the U.S. including Millennium Dance Complex Pittsburgh and the Colorado Ballet Society.

Lauren is an ABT® Certified Teacher, who has successfully completed the ABT® Teacher Training Intensive in Pre-Primary through Level 3 the ABT® National Training Curriculum.

In addition to performing and teaching Lauren began a career in advertising at Dance Media, publisher of Dance Magazine, Dance Spirit, Dance Teacher, Pointe, Dance Business Weekly, and The Dance Edit. She now works as an Account Manager at Google.

Lauren founded Stagesmith Dance Training™ to share her love and knowledge of the industry with dancers across the country.