Department of Theater and Dance
Laurie Zabele Cawley has over 35 years of experience in performance, choreography, and dance education. She has performed with esteemed dance companies such as Whitley Setrakian and Dancers-People Dancing, Eisenhower Dance Ensemble, Harbinger Dance Company, Ann Arbor Dance Works, and 2 Duet Theater. Additionally, she has collaborated extensively with independent artists and taught nationally and internationally in academia, conservatories, residencies, and workshops.
Laurie's choreographic works across her career embody her distinctive artistic vision and innovative approach to movement. In 2013, she founded the multigenerational Loose Change Dance Collective with a mission to challenge conventional perceptions of dancers. The collective has performed in notable venues across cities such as NYC, Rochester, Brooklyn, Geneva, and throughout the capital region. As Artistic Director, she has devised full-length productions such as Interplay, Tides of Magnets, and She Said, alongside festival and commission work. Her production Women, Work, Force brought together female choreographers from Detroit, Seville, NYC, and Saratoga, highlighting her dedication to collaboration and women’s voices in dance.
Laurie holds a BA from Empire State College and certifications in Level 1 Franklin Method, DMA, PBT, and PMT. Her work reflects her belief in the transformative power of movement, uniting artistic innovation with community-building to create spaces where diverse voices and generations can connect, collaborate, and thrive.
