Laurie Fleurentin

Bay Area Alameda County Intercultural Dance Folklife/Other Music Haitian

Laurie Fleurentin was born in Haiti and began dancing at the age of five at the Academy of Ballet and Arts under the direction of Heileing Herzog. She studied traditional Haitian dance with Armande J.Piard and Vivianne Gauthier, and received a Graduate diploma in dance at L’ENARTS (Ecole Nationale des Arts) School of Arts in Haiti. Laurie is also a trained vocalists in Haitian Folkloric traditional chants. Laurie became a professional dancer for Vivianne Gauthier dance company where she met Florencia Pierre and started dancing for Afoutayi Jaka. She has also performed at San Francisco Ethnic dance festival with Afoutayi as well as choreographed and performed at Cubacaribe in San Francisco. Currently Laurie teaches Haitian dance at Destiny Arts Center, Dimensions Dance Theater in Oakland, and The Beat in Berkeley. Laurie is a versatile Haitian dancer and has dedicated herself to the research, development, and promotion of traditional Haitian Folkloric dance, song, and storytelling. In addition to teaching dance, Laurie also leads her own dance company and serves as the Artistic Director and choreographer to F.A.L ( Fòlklò Ayisyen Lakay).

Laurie’s Instagram
Folko Ayisyen Lakay Website

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Apprenticeship Program

2025

Haitian Folkloric Dance with apprentice Laëticia Jacques

Laëitica Jacques will deepen her practice in Haitian folkloric dance and song through an apprenticeship under the mentorship of her mother, Laurie Fleurentin. This apprenticeship focuses on advancing technique, understanding traditional rhythms and their meanings, and learning the historical and cultural significance of Haitian dance forms. As part of the training, the apprentice will study choreography, songs in Haitian Creole, and ancestral knowledge, preparing her to support performances and lead a community workshop on three traditional Haitian dances that explores their origins, rhythms, and cultural meanings through both movement and song.