ABOUT LAURA WARD-MORAN

Laura Ward-Moran is the founder and owner of Unparalleled Pursuits, LLC. With 28 years of experience, she has worked as a performer, educator, business owner, consultant, curriculum writer, Pilates instructor, and program implementer. Laura has taught ballet, modern dance, composition, and Pilates in public and private schools and colleges. For 15 years, she operated her own dance studio and, simultaneously, owned and operated her own Pilates studio for 21 years. A serial entrepreneur, she values the challenges and rewards of business ownership and has used her talents in dance and Pilates to create meaningful opportunities and to help grow other leaders in the industry.

Currently, as the Founder and Director of Dance at The John Carroll School, Laura guides a select group of talented students and faculty through a comprehensive curriculum in dance technique and related studies. Her aim is to prepare students for their dance careers after high school, ensuring they have a deep understanding of the art form and a solid technical foundation. Through her mentorship, many of her students have excelled in dance, pursuing professional and collegiate careers and becoming influential figures in the industry. Her students have previously attended or currently attend prestigious programs and universities, including Point Park, Temple, the University of South Carolina, the University of Charleston, the Boston Conservatory at Berklee, Towson University, the School of American Ballet Summer Intensive, Miami City Ballet Summer Intensive, Butler Summer Intensive, Mercyhurst Summer Intensive, and Utah Summer Intensive. She has served on faculty at various festivals and workshops along the East Coast, where she has been a guest lecturer and teacher. She has also contributed as a writer for two dance media platforms. 

Her commitment to dance education extends beyond the classroom; she has extensive experience in curriculum development and in implementing dance programs in both public and private schools. Furthermore, she has mentored new business owners in acquiring existing studios and building their own.

Along with her K-12 Maryland dance education certification, Laura continuously advances her training. She holds certifications in the Pilates Method of Body Conditioning (Authentic Pilates and Level V+ Romana’s Pilates Instructor), Progressing Ballet Technique (PBT), and The Language of Dance (Motif), developed by Dr. Ann Hutchinson Guest. Laura earned an M.Ed. in Educational Leadership from Loyola University of Maryland and an Administrator I Certification from MSDE. She is a member of the National Dance Education Organization (NDEO) and sponsors the JCS National Honor Society for Dance Arts (NHSDA) Chapter. She previously served on the Maryland Dance Education Association (MDEA) Board, representing private, independent, and parochial K-12 schools. From June 2018 to January 2021, she was a member of the Harford County Cultural Arts Advisory Board. Through this leadership, Laura continues to advance dance as an art form in her community. 

In recognition of her outstanding contributions, Laura was awarded the Maryland Dance Education Association 2022 Dance Educator of the Year for K-12 Education. As the owner of Unparalleled Pursuits, LLC, she also hosts the annual Mid-Atlantic Dance Educator Summit each summer in Maryland.