Laura Chieko loves many things: tea, monkeys, and dance. Since 2006, Laura has trained in Lindy hop, balboa, and blues, and dabbled in a myriad of other dance styles. She is known for her grace, enchanting performance, and effortless following. A former musician, Laura likes to play with rhythms and has strong opinions about how clarinets should sound. Laura loves blues for its emphasis on connection and acknowledgment of the range of human emotion—from sorrow to joy. On the dance floor, she is best known for her poise, ability to rock the color orange, and occasionally winning things.

An educator in dance halls and traditional classrooms, Laura values student engagement and seeks to inspire the blues aesthetic from a solid understanding of body mechanics. She pulls from her wide cross training from music to human evolution to create classes accessible to a broad range of students. Learn more about her teaching experience here.

A yonsei Uchinanchu and Japanese American, Laura has access to multiple experiences.  Laura feels strongly about honoring the origins and culture of blues music and dance.  Blues was born from the struggle of Black Americans after the American Civil War, a struggle which continues to this day.

Laura believes that the best dancing comes from a strong community.  She works to create and share resources for dancers everywhere, and seeks to connect blues organizers around the world.