As the executive director of Ballet Arkansas, Lauren Strother looks forward to the holiday season all year

When it comes to holiday traditions, perhaps none are more special in the eyes of little girls than the beauty and magic of The Nutcracker ballet. For Lauren Strother, dance has been a way of life since her days at Ms. Karen’s Dance Studio in North Little Rock. “I have literally danced my entire life,” says Strother, who went on to join the dance team at the University of Arkansas where she earned a marketing degree.

Today, as the executive director of Ballet Arkansas, she uses her marketing know-how and her passion for dance to promote and progress the company. “In the past three years we have grown from having five professional dancers to now having 11,” she says. While the ballet holds performances throughout the year, Strother admits The Nutcracker is “the staple of any ballet company.” Not only is this true for the dancers, who begin to prepare with student auditions in August and rehearsals following in early September, but also for audiences. “We have people who might not attend any other shows, but look forward to this all year,” she adds.

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