DDP Talks To Lauren Lovette (Choreographer)
Paul Taylor Dance Company
DDP: What makes a mentor?
Lauren Lovette: I believe that a mentor is someone who not only inspires our journey through life, but also provides meaningful and honest feedback at various points of decision. I have almost too many mentors to count! However, when I think of a mentor who has directly and consistently inspired and advised me through the past three years, Lauren King’s face is the most vivid in the mix.
DDP: What are the essential qualities of a mentor?
Lauren Lovette: I feel that one of the essential qualities of a mentor is someone who holds as much experience in one’s field as possible, without being in direct view of what the mentee is dealing with. Someone with a unique perspective, a willing heart to give back, and a radical candor in their feedback.
DDP: How has having a mentor changed you?
Lauren Lovette: I feel that without my mentors, I would absolutely not be where I am today. At every point in my career journey I have had guides and beacons of knowledge leading my way. I have learned first to honor my most inner voice, but have always been an advocate for opening up my ears to those who are willing to share their wisdom with me. I believe that having at least one mentor in life is absolutely vital.
DDP: How did you and your mentor meet?
Lauren Lovette: Lauren King and I met at New York City ballet while we were both dancing there. Lauren King got into the company before I did, and already had a strong presence within the company ecosystem. She was well-respected amongst the various ranks when I joined in 2009, and she was kind to me when I was an apprentice just entering the dance world professionally. Though she and I were not close outside of the dance studio, we would exchange kind words from time to time by locker rooms or between breaks. She and I were reconnected by a friend of mine who worked alongside Lauren at the Balanchine Foundation. I was looking for someone to help me organize a growing list of professional projects, and Lauren King was willing to assist me in a variety of different ways. Over the past 2 1/2 years she has become one of my closest confidants, mentors, and now a true friend.
DDP: Does/did this relationship make you think about yourself/your work differently
Lauren Lovette: Absolutely! Lauren King has a completely different brain than I have, and sees the world in an entirely unique way. She has taught me how to trust my instincts, how to show up more honestly with myself and therefore for those around me. She has shown me what a true listener looks like, and has inspired me daily with her genuine and profound integrity. I knew she was unique to other mentors because of her priorities. Her clear and concise priorities in her own life have helped me clarify better how I move through the world, and ultimately why I decide to take on the projects that I do.
DDP: What are “the other Lauren’s” best qualities in terms of professional/personal coaching
Lauren Lovette: Lauren King is one of the most radically honest humans I have ever met. She has this very lucid and clear way of telling me the truth, but is so artful about how she delivers her feedback. I have always felt a comfort in her candor because of her outrageous heart for the people around her and for dance. She is someone who’s character shines through, and therefore her opinions, corrections, and even criticisms never feel hostile or ill intended.
DDP: Do you have thoughts on being a good mentee?
Lauren Lovette: I feel that to be a good mentee one has to learn to listen. This has not been my strongest quality in life and I have had to learn a deeper vulnerability and humility as a result. I often hold a laser focus in seeing things my way, and can be stubborn in my ideas, especially when those ideas are something I am truly passionate about! I have learned (and am still learning!) that in order to grow in anything I must admit that I have something to learn. And beyond this, possess the courage to open my ear to those who might have something to teach me. In my younger years, I felt my self worth was tied to my being as perfect as I could be, but “perfect” has no air to grow… “Perfect” thinks that they have already arrived and “perfect” is unable to withstand honest and constructive feedback in an open and humble way. I feel humility, grace, and an open heart are needed. If anyone reading this has a desire to move to the next level of their career or life, I believe that humility is the first step on the journey forward.
People's Summit, Photo by Midia Ninja