Interview with Laurette Jean

Interview with Laurette Jean, a dancer and choreographer who is actively involved in the Haitian cultural community. Jean works as a Principal Management and Budget Analyst for the Office of Management and Budget of Broward County. She has a Bachelor’s degree in public administration from Florida International University and a Master’s degree in public administration from Nova Southeastern University. She joined the Louinès Louinis Haitian Dance Theatre in 2002, and is the treasurer and a principal dancer with the company. Jean began dancing at age 12 at Horace Mann Middle School, and she has had formal dance training in ballet, hip-hop, and West African dance. She also teaches and choreographs Haitian dance at several schools with large populations of Haitian students, and is a grant writer for the Pierre Toussaint Leadership & Learning Center. She is also a co-founder of Harmony Dance Troup, a liturgical dance group that focuses on improving self-esteem among teenagers.