Meet Laura
HI! I'm Laura K. Vannah
Fifteen years ago I started down the path of self-discovery. At the time I was going through a divorce and realized I had no idea who I was, let alone what I had to offer the world. Me Dynamic? Not anywhere near that.
I had graduated with a B.A. in Psychology from Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia in 1992. I had no desire (at that time) to return to school for another degree. So I set about discovering what made me tick, what I loved, and "what I wanted to do when I grew up".
I've always loved learning and research, so I read everything I could get my hands on - quantum physics, dream work, shadow work, Native American Animal Totem work, spirituality in many different forms, a variety of energy work modalities, life mission, relationships, mythology, anything that would help me understand me and my gifts.
I had been on stage in a variety of forms and roles since I was four years old. My first passion is music and I spent fourteen years as a classically trained pianist. I spent ten years studying at the New England Conservatory for Music and was in the Boston Ballet's Nutcracker for three years as a child. So I thought that might be another place to start and another piece of the puzzle clicked into place.
In 1998, I rediscovered acting and the theater in my first official acting class at the Actor's Workshop in Boston, MA. I felt like I was finally home. For four years, all my creativity and attention became focused like a laser beam.
- I took class after class; played numerous roles;
- Was one of two chosen to represent Team USA in Los Angeles for the World Championships for the Performing Arts, where I won the Silver Medal in Acting, the Bronze Medal in Stand-Up Comedy, and the Overall Championship Medal in Stand-Up Comedy for the 20-29 age group;
- Completed the Director's Apprenticeship program at the Actor's Workshop, Boston;
- Became a member of StageSource, The Alliance of Theatre Artists & Producers of New England;
- Was hired as the editor and marketing representative of The Source, and subsequently became StageSource's Director of Member Services;
- Worked for three years at Comedy Theater Productions, America's FIRST murder mystery dinner theater, as David Goldstein's Stage & Production Manager;
- And, in 2001, was nominated for a Native American Music Award as a member of the Thunder Hawk Singers. (The Thunder Hawk Singers won a 2009 Native American Music Award for Best Traditional Recording for their CD Native Pride.)
I thought I had "made it". It was about that time that I got 'cold feet' or maybe it was an alternate form of stage fright and I began to doubt myself.
For the next three years, I ran in the opposite direction, away from my dreams. While I was in the process of denying my dreams and my heart's calling, I was learning some incredible skills and life lessons ~ I created and ran my own Desktop Publishing business, taught a bi-weekly workshop on Native American Animal Totems at the Native Addictions Services Society of Calgary Alberta and was awarded the Certificate of Achievement in 2003 for my work with the Traditional Pathways Group, and ran focus groups of 100+ adults and children for Many Guns Traditional Consulting, Inc. ~ all of which lead me to Mexico NY and brought me right back to where I left my treasure box in 2001.
In 2004, I founded Bright Star ProductionZ, a murder mystery dinner theatre company based in Mexico NY. You can read all about how THAT came about by clicking here. I began to reclaim who I was and what I was really longing to do. All the twists and turns I'd taken, all the lessons and skills I had been learning along those detours, came into sharp focus. As the owner and Executive Director of Bright Star ProductionZ, I have directed and produced over 60 productions in the past six years. It is now the home of Murder Mystery Dinner Theatre, Corporate Entertainment & Team-Building Events, Char-actors, and A Wonderful Life Day .
I founded The Native Circle: Touch the Earth Day in 2006, an annual Native American Music festival held in Mexico NY; have taught workshops on Native American Animal Totems for the past eight years in both Canada and the US; and taught Basic Acting Processes at Binghamton University, while earning my Master’s Degree in Theatre.
I developed the Spiritual Acting Technique from my Masters Thesis entitled, “The Spiritual Actor: The Power of Spirituality in Acting and Actor Training using Spiritual Practices and Native American Animal Totems”. Preview this cutting-edge, ground-breaking work here. Spiritual Acting is the synthesis of the core principles and processes of acting, awareness practices, Native American Animal Totems work, and Shadow work.
What I've learned in the past fifteen years, is how to tap into my passion, my purpose, my Dynamic self . Every step I took kept leading me forward towards what I now offer.
I have gained a ginormous toolbox and want to share it with you!
I am passionate about helping actors, artists, entrepreneurs, and creative individuals Embrace, Empower and Express their most authentic Dynamic selves for Success so they can lead extraordinary, successful lives.
If you'd like connect with me to discuss any of the products and services I offer, please feel free to Contact Me. I'd love to hear from you!
Teaching others is a very noble thing to begin with but to teach self-confidence, self-esteem, communication and connecting with others has the potential for shifting the culture.
~Doug M., Vitality Fitness Instructor, Upstate Medical University