Rae Lawhorne (they/them) grew up in the mountains of Virginia, filling their time with as many dance classes as they could. They graduated summa cum laude from Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) with a BFA in Dance and Choreography, where they focused on modern and contemporary techniques. Throughout their time at VCU, Rae had the privilege of performing in works by students, faculty, and globally renowned guest artists. They also performed at Jacob’s Pillow’s annual Inside/Out performance series through the American College Dance Association Highlights program. After college, Rae turned their focus towards the world of circus and decided to attend the ProTrack program at the New England Center for Circus Arts (NECCA). At NECCA they chose to specialize in aerial hoop and Chinese pole, and continued to grow as a teacher and artist. Since graduating, they have performed in tented shows and cabarets, taught circus around New England, and hope to continue to expand their horizons. 

Photo by Elsie Smith