Dancing between Kildare and LA for Kildare's Laura

FOR Newbridge dancer and business owner Laura Hammond, it is difficult to imagine her life without dance.

At 24, she has spent the past few years building a career that takes her from primary school classrooms to stages around the country, while also finding time to train in Los Angeles and perform with Dublin-based Fly Dance Company.

A typical week might see her teaching primary school children in Kildare and Carlow with her dance school, Encore Dance Studios, rehearsing in Dublin or preparing for a three-hour Bingo Loco show somewhere around the country.

Laura first started dancing at the age of 10 at Dance Tones Studios in Newbridge, where she trained in ballroom, Latin and hip hop. She went on to compete nationally and internationally before becoming involved in teaching at the studio herself.

Those early experiences would later prove invaluable when she decided to establish her own dance school.

“I sort of was behind the scenes for a few years,” she said. “I think that allowed me to bring my dance school up as well.” 

After completing a two-year Level 6 course in Business Management in Dublin, Laura travelled to Los Angeles for six weeks of dance training in late 2022 – knowing that dancing was where her heart truly was.

She returned to Ireland knowing she wanted to pursue dance full-time and began approaching primary schools about running dance classes as an after-school activity.

Since early 2023, that work has grown into a regular schedule across five primary schools, three in Kildare and two in Carlow, as well as workshops in primary and secondary schools.

One of those schools is particularly familiar territory: Scoil Mhuire in Newbridge, where Laura herself was a pupil.

She has also returned to Holy Family Secondary School, where she was a student, to deliver dance workshops.

While teaching has become a major part of her working life, Laura has continued to perform professionally.

She joined Bingo Loco in December 2022 and estimates that she has now performed in around 150 shows with the company.

The work has taken her to venues across Ireland, where she performs alongside a host and DJ, helping to keep audiences involved throughout the three-hour shows.

“I think I’ve covered nearly every county at this point,” she said.

Another standout moment came in 2024, when Laura was among the dancers selected for the opening ceremony of the Europa League final at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin.

She is also a member of Dublin-based Fly Dance Company, which has performed at The Helix and appeared at World of Dance in Drogheda earlier this year.

At that event, Laura and the group were performing rather than competing, but were recognised as judges’ favourites.

Her professional development has also taken her back to Los Angeles regularly since that first trip in 2022.

Laura generally spends between four and eight weeks there, sometimes taking two or three classes a day. 

Among the choreographers she has trained with are Luther Brown, Codie Wiggins, Devin Sullivan and Sean Bankhead, who has done choreography for artists like Tate McRae.

Back at home in Kildare, Laura’s dance school, Encore Dance Studios, currently teaches children from junior infants through sixth class, with Laura deliberately keeping the focus on enjoyment rather than competition.

Instead of entering competitions, the school puts on a Christmas show and awards night, giving the children an opportunity to perform for their families.

“I’d rather them just have a bit of fun in class, learn some music, learn some dance moves and then make friends.” 

For Laura herself, the professional side of dance remains very much part of the plan.

She hopes to continue developing her teaching business while taking on more performance work. 

But, the ultimate dream is to take part in dancing on tour with pop performers and star in music videos for artists such as Tate McCrae.