Rachael McLaren

Rachael McLaren is a Canadian dancer who performed with the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater.

Rachael McLaren
Born1985/1986 (age 34–35)
Manitoba, Canada
Occupationdancer
Former groupsAlvin Ailey American Dance Theater

Early life

McLaren was raised in Winnipeg, Manitoba, and was the youngest of four children. She started ballet at age five, at the Royal Winnipeg Ballet School's recreational program, where she was one of the only black students, and was rejected by the professional program, as she was "not a fit".[1]

Career

At age 17, she was cast as an ensemble member and an understudy of Ali in the Toronto production of Mamma Mia!, despite having little vocal training.[2][3] Two years later, in 2006, she joined Ailey II in New York City, and entered the main company, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, in 2008.[4] She dances both contemporary ballet and modern dance in the company.[1] In 2016, on the occasion of Chroma's 10th anniversary, she and four of her colleagues performed the piece with dancers from The Royal Ballet at the Royal Opera House, London.[5][6]

As of June 2019, she is no longer on the Ailey company's roster.[7]

References
  1. Schabas, Martha (March 3, 2016). "Canadian Rachael McLaren on dancing with New York's Alvin Ailey company". The Globe and Mail.
  2. Farquharson, Vanessa (March 26, 2012). "Dancer Rachael McLaren on overcoming body shape and skin colour". Chatelaine.
  3. "Rachael McLaren". Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. Retrieved July 13, 2020.
  4. "Letter to My Teenage Self: Rachael McLaren". Dance Spirit. December 1, 2014.
  5. Parry, Jann (November 13, 2016). "Royal Ballet – Wayne McGregor bill: Chroma, Multiverse, Carbon Life – London". DanceTabs.
  6. Mackrell, Judith (November 11, 2016). "Wayne McGregor mixed bill review – dances at the end of the world". The Guardian.
  7. "About Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater". Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. Archived from the original on June 29, 2019.
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