We recently connected with Laura Thurston and have shared our conversation below.

Laura, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Are you happier as a creative? Do you sometimes think about what it would be like to just have a regular job? Can you talk to us about how you think through these emotions?

My short answer is YES! I am happier as an artist. That does not mean I don’t float the idea of having a “regular” job. Having benefits and a steady paycheck is very enticing, especially when things get tight.

Fundraising in the arts is difficult. It involves hours of time in grant writing, funding campaigns, planning fundraisers, and tirelessly asking for contributions. I also currently donate time to run the administration of the company.

We recently received our Not-For-Profit status in the fall of 2022. This was a HUGE hurdle to complete (as it is for any Not-For-Profit), yet its just one of many hurdles to go. I am currently applying for grants to help support our organization.

Here’s the thing… I never thought I’d be writing grants. I am a Dance Performance major. I performed professionally in Chicago for 10 years post college. I then became a mother (now a mom of two children, and they are my EVERYTHING). Yet I had such an itch to keep going.

The show has always gone on. But there is more we can do. We can reach a larger audience, provide more opportunity to our casts (including visual artists) and broaden our reach in support of our artistic collaborations within the City of Chicago. Art has this incredible ability to move us, sharing in our human experiences and expanding our connection to one another. So while I may feel defeated in the financial constraints of being an artist, I strive to make the world a better place where we can all experience art and feel supported by it. I fully believe that we all deserve this. Not only is this a feat I will continue to do for our company, but I will also do it for my children. I want to show them that they, too can do anything.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I’d been dancing since early childhood. It has grown with me as a creative outlet for expression and connection. I studied dance at Northern Dance Theatre of Northern Illinois University. I also studied dance at the Dance Center of Columbia College Chicago. I graduated from Columbia College with a BA in Dance Performance in 2005.

My professional career began in 2004 with Chicago Dance Crash, where I performed and trained from 2004-2007. From 2007-2008, I performed and trained with Corpo Dance Company, and 2008-2009 I performed and trained with Cerqua Rivera Dance Theater. In 2009, I Co-Founded Piel Morena Contemporary Dance, performing from 2009-2012. In 2013, I Co-Founded Still Inspired, performing in the first season. I had the pleasure to work with many incredible instructors throughout my professional training including: Greg Begley, Homer Bryant, Joel Hall, John Leher, Lizzie MacKenzie, Cheryl Mann, Stephanie Martinez, Laura Gates, Randall Newsom, Kirby Reed, Molly Shanahan, & Laura Wade among others. I Performed works by: Ricardo Garcia, Elijah Alhadji Gibson, Doris Humphrey, Tony Powell, Michelle Manzanales, Wilfredo Rivera & Jaime Sierra to name a few, and was lucky enough to perform in venues throughout the Midwest, New York City, and Monterrey, Mexico.

I began work in arts administration in 2009, learning about the “behind the scenes” efforts of running a Not-For-Profit in the Chicago Dance Community. I gained experience in public relations, grant writing, data management, accounting, fundraising, and event coordination.
I founded Still Inspired in 2013, and I currently work as Artistic Director, Choreographer and Co-Producer of Still Inspired. I am working to produce the show’s ninth installment in Chicago.

Still Inspired is a Chicago-based dance company that engages audience members through live performance. Highly collaborative at its core, the company features visual artists and their work which serve as inspiration for choreographers to create their own work. Each performance offers audience members a glimpse into the creative process through a Q&A with the choreographers and visual artist, serving as a jumping-off point from which viewers are free to form their own interpretations.

We currently produce one annual professional performance, and are aiming to do more in our future. We also produce a program titled Future Artists- a performance opportunity for budding choreographers aged 14-22 to choreograph a piece inspired by the work of a visual artist (painter, sculpture, photographer, etc.) and present their work via live performance. Future Artist choreographers also have the option to present a dance film, also inspired by the work of a visual artist, to be screened during the live performance.

Our programming is unique in that we specifically feature Chicago visual artists and their work, investigating through the lens of multiple local choreographers and dance performers. Through our curated presentation, audience members are welcomed to connect to our production and its featured art/choreography on a deeper level. Our model of presentation encourages audiences to continue seeking art as an important tool in their own lives for deepened connection.

Still Inspired choreographers and performers have participated in a range subject matter inspired by our seasonal visual artist. Each season has a unique lens of visual artwork to explore and share with our audience.
I am proud of the work that Still Inspired has done, and continues to do for our visual art and dance community. We seek to support as many artists as we can both financially AND emotionally. The mental health of our artistic team is extremely important to Still Inspired, and has been a prime focus since its inception in 2013. Our company has much to offer and give both within our organization and to those that support us.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

The most rewarding aspect for me and the type of work that Still Inspired does is the sense of community. Creating a live performance with multiple artists and art mediums and moving towards one presentational goal through our shared creative energy has provided me an education like nothing else I’ve encountered. Artistic communal processes builds character, strength, and knowledge for all involved.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

In line with my most rewarding artistic experience, my mission with Still Inspired is to bring together a community in support of each other’s artistic voices, using our art to communicate and share with one another and our audiences to provide a rich, deepened human connection. Nowadays, our fast-paced world causes us to disassociate much of our innate needs. Through our collaborative mission, we seek to engage with as many artists as we can, sharing their stories and work in celebration of our collective similarities AND differences.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.stillinspireddance.com
• Instagram: @still.inspired
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/stillinspired

Image Credits
Shin Lim Photography Dan Pacurar