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The Women Behind WIM
Rachel Thalman - Founder/Co-Director/Choreographer/Dancer
Rachel Thalman, originally from Pittsburgh, is a NYC based freelance performer. In 2022, she co-founded the dance company, Woman in Motion, to fuel her innate desire to pave a path for opportunity, community and pure fulfillment for like-minded artists. She is fiercely passionate about creating more opportunities for dancers to perform as their truest self and to support one another throughout the process. Her past performance experience includes dancing with Pittsburgh Ballet Theater and Cincinnati Ballet. Her NYC freelance credits include performing with The Met Opera, Tom Gold Dance, Neglia Ballet, Mordance and Ballet Verité as well as with choreographers Danielle Diniz, Ryan Heffington and Mariana Oliveira. Rachel, represented by Lakey Wolff & Co, has also had the privilege of performing in STAGES St. Louis’ Oklahoma! and with the World Tour of The Phantom of the Opera.
Laura Kaufman - Founder/Co-Director/ Choreographer/Dancer
Laura wrote her college admissions essay about her dream of starting a company that merged the worlds of musical theater and ballet, and she is pinching herself that she is standing here today! Laura grew up in Overland Park, Kansas and received a BFA in Dance from the University of Arizona. She most recently was on the road with the national tour of CATS following a year with the first national tour of An American in Paris. Prior to her time on tour, Laura danced with City Ballet of San Diego followed by Odyssey Dance Theatre where she toured all over Europe. Laura has recently enjoyed sharing her passion through teaching at the Ballet West Academy, CPYB, and Broadway Dance Center. She feels the pull now more than ever to create a space for dancers to express their individual voices and create in a safe environment and is beyond thrilled to be working with all of these brilliant humans and artists.
