PRESENTER BIO:

Michelle J. Ottley-Fisher

Michelle J. Ottley-Fisher, a native of the US Virgin Islands, is in her 32nd  year of public education.  Mrs. Fisher began her career teaching dance and earth-space science at the Douglas Anderson School of the Arts and later served as the director of dance at the Landon School for the Arts and Academics, all in Jacksonville Florida.  She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Dance and Secondary Education at Jacksonville University and recently became the recipient of Jacksonville University’s School of Fine Arts’, “Distinguished Alumni in Theatre and Dance” award. Michelle also holds the “Florida Arts Model Program” designation for her department at the LaVilla School of the Arts and was honored to serve as the 2010 Teacher-of the Year at her current school.

During her 33 years in Jacksonville, Michelle has been lucky enough to have built lasting relationships in schools, churches, and in community dance and theatre organizations in and around the state of Florida and more recently, the nation.  Her love of dance has also afforded Michelle the opportunity to serve as faculty for the Florida Dance Masters convention, the Orlando Ballet School summer intensive, and the National Modern Dance competition. Ms. Ottley proudly adds the re-staging of choreography for over 150 musical productions to her repertoire. 

Affectionately known and Mama O, Mrs. Ottley-Fisher is in her 23rd year as director of the dance department at the LaVilla School of the Arts in Jacksonville, Florida; a program for which she has designed and built the curriculum in one of the most sought-after performing arts schools in the state.  She was lucky enough to have been among the founding instructors at LaVilla and is amazingly proud of the impact that she gets to be a part of every day.   However, Mrs. Fisher’s most rewarding roles have been as a wife and mother to three incredible young women.

Lauren Logan

Lauren Logan, since a young age, has been a believer in the positive influence of movement. Born in Jacksonville, Florida, Lauren is a teacher, choreographer, and dance artist, and she shares her love of dance with her many students in Florida and Georgia. Some of Ms. Logan’s recent works have been showcased at the Amelia Island Dance Festival, Santa Fe’s Young Dancer Workshop, and FAAE Summit 2023. She currently serves as the co-chair of dance at LaVilla School of the Arts. 
   
Lauren earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts from Jacksonville University where she was awarded the Talent Scholarship. While at JU, she was honored to perform works choreographed by Take Ueyama, Adrianne Clancy, Twyla Tharp, and Attila Csiki. In 2009, she was accepted to study abroad in Bangkok, Thailand, where she was invited to choreograph for Mahidol University's Dance Program. Lauren was also invited to travel and perform as a soloist for a Jacksonville University Dance Concert at the Luna Blou Theatre in Williamsted, Curacao. From 2011-2013, Lauren was selected as a company member and performer with Braided Light Dance Project, as well as an Artist in Residency, which allowed her choreography to be showcased around Florida. In 2015, Lauren earned her Master of Fine Arts in Dance from Hollins University, in collaboration with The Forsythe Company. 
   
Along with teaching dance daily at LaVilla School of the Arts, Lauren is also the Creative Director of Firebird Photos, where she showcases her combined love of dance and photography. Firebird Creative has recently been featured in the online publication Voyage Magazine. She has been honored to receive multiple choreography awards and numerous top overall scores on the regional and national level. She loves to spend time with her growing family—her daughter, Lennox, Firebird Creative partner and husband, Philip, and is anxiously awaiting the arrival of Baby Boy Logan this summer!