Here’s the fancy bio: Lauren Warnecke is a reporter for WGLT, the NPR-affiliate station in Bloomington-Normal, IL. She is also a freelance culture reporter and reviews dance for the Chicago Tribune. Lauren previously wrote for See Chicago Dance, serving as editor from 2018-2021. During that time, Lauren co-facilitated dance writing intensives with the JOMBA! Contemporary Dance Experience in Durban, South Africa. She has been a resident writer at JOMBA!, the Bates Dance Festival and the National Center for Choreography at the University of Akron.
Holding degrees in dance and kinesiology, Lauren has taught coursework in dance history and technique, exercise physiology, exercise testing & prescription, and kinesiology for dancers. She presented research on evidence-based dance training practices at the National Dance Education Organization, Midwest Sports and Exercise Psychology Symposium and International Association for Dance Medicine and Science.
With nearly two decades of administrative experience, Lauren has managed community outreach and arts education programs, overseen grant writing and communications for small arts organizations, curated and produced live events and led archival and research projects.
Lauren enjoys cooking, cycling and attempting to grow things in her backyard.
Education
M.S. University of Illinois at Chicago
B.A. Columbia College Chciago
Additional Training
Grade III Teachers Certificate, Cecchetti Council of America; Certified Personal Trainer, American College of Sports Medicine; Certificates in Aquatic Fitness, Functional Training and Olympic Weightlifting
Awards and Select Grants
- New Alum Award, College of Applied Health Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago (2014).
- Outstanding Adjunct Faculty Award, Department of Kinesiology and Nutrition, University of Illinois at Chicago (2012).
Select Publications
- Warnecke, L. (2020). “Art and Performance During the Time of COVID-19 Lockdown.” Agenda, 34:3, 145-147, DOI: 10.1080/10130950.2020.1783889
Image credits: Lauren Warnecke headshot by Todd Rosenberg; Lauren seated on laptop courtesy of King is a Fink Productions; with Doug Verone and Netta Yerushalmy at the Portland Art Museum by Katherine Butler/Bates Dance Festival; with Kimberly Bartosek and Netta Yerushalmy at the Lewiston Public Library by Jonathan Hsu/Bates Dance Festival.
Lauren Warnecke 