News

Trinity Laban welcomes Princeton graduate Lauren Auyeung, a Chicago-born dancer, choreographer and artist, to its Faculty of Dance as the newest Fulbright-Trinity Laban Postgraduate Scholar.

Lauren will complete her MFA in Creative Practice, researching the histories, aesthetics, and politics of the hip-hop dance movement in the UK.

Lauren is interested in the intersectionality of art and politics, and over the course of this academic year she plans to foster meaningful connections between London’s underground dance community and dance institutions, culminating in the creation of a collaborative, immersive dance work.

On receiving the Fulbright-Trinity Laban Postgraduate Award in Music or Dance Lauren comments –

“I am excited to start my degree at Trinity Laban in this challenging and unprecedented time. Now is the perfect opportunity to dive back into my own research, consider new questions, and discover innovative ways to create real change in the dance world.

“Studying hip-hop in the context of Trinity Laban will put me in connection with unique artists and thinkers that I would never have met otherwise, offering the flexibility to learn from experienced dance practitioners and experiment with my own self-directed projects. I am excited to take advantage of all of the resources available and build lasting relationships.”

Lauren’s senior thesis Over Exposure was the first full-length hip-hop work produced by a student in the history of Princeton’s Dance Department. Watch the performance. After graduating in 2019, Lauren was invited to curate and teach her alma mater’s first ever hip-hop technique curriculum, creating a lasting impact in the Princeton dance community.

Sara Matthews, Director of Dance, comments –

“Trinity Laban is thrilled to welcome Lauren Auyeung to the Faculty of Dance as this year’s Fulbright Scholar, continuing a rich tradition of cultural exchange and innovation. The international community Lauren is joining will help support her development as an innovator and change-maker, as she continues to take exciting steps to advance the art form of dance.”

Trinity Laban Principal Anthony Bowne comments –

“Trinity Laban is proud to continue its longstanding partnership with the US-UK Fulbright Commission by being part of this next stage in Lauren Auyeung’s artistic journey. She is an exceptionally talented individual doing extraordinary work and we are excited to see the positive impact she will no doubt have on the Conservatoire and wider industry over the course of her tenure.”

US-UK Fulbright Commission Executive Director Maria Balinska comments –

“We are thrilled that Lauren Auyeung will be bringing her unique expertise and American perspective to explore the world of British hip-hop. Her commitment to learn from and bring innovation to the international world of dance is exactly what we look for in our Fulbright scholars – a compassionate approach to leadership and an eagerness to be engaged in social change.”

This is the fifth year Trinity Laban have worked with the US-UK Fulbright Commission, the only international education exchange programme to go both ways across the Atlantic and whose vision is a world in which there are no obstacles to learning, understanding and collaboration.

Previous Trinity Laban recipients include US Marines veteran and Artistic Director of Exit12 Dance Company (New York) Roman Baca, who was awarded the Fulbright Association’s Selma Jeanne Cohen Dance Lecture Award, and Washington-born pianist Garrett Snedeker who recently won a Barzun Prize for Youth Engagement to pioneer a music project to engage under-served teenagers in Southeast London.

Find out more about the Fulbright Scholarship, including how to apply for 2021, on our Fees and Finance pages.

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Image credit: Emily Northrup