Lauryn Winterhalder Groh was born and raised in Santa Cruz and received her training at The Studio, School of Classical Ballet.  During her training, she was a member of the Petite, Junior and Senior Companies of Santa Cruz Ballet Theatre.  An audience favorite, Lauryn rose to a high level of accomplishment before graduation from high school, performing leading roles such as Emily in Phillip Jerry’s “Our Town”; the Snow Queen, Arabian Princess and Dewdrop Fairy in “The Nutcracker”; a Cygnet in “Swan Lake Act II”; the Peasant Pas de Deux and Zulma in “Giselle;” as well as roles in Alan Hineline’s “Sans Souci”, Debra Rogo’s “Five in Wine,” and several works by Robert Kelley.  

Upon graduation, Lauryn accepted a trainee position with Pacific Northwest Ballet.  From Seattle she moved to Cincinnati to dance with Cincinnati Ballet.  Lauryn settled in our state’s capital with Sacramento Ballet, where she performed a diverse repertoire for many years.  In “The Nutcracker” she performed the Arabian divertissement, Candycane, Snow Queen and Sugar Plum Fairy.  She has danced the principal pas de deux in Edwaard Liang’s “Wunderland” and the Autumn and Winter Fairy variations in Ron Cunningham’s “Cinderella,” Odette-Odile in “Swan Lake” and many other leading roles.  A favorite of guest choreographers, she created original roles in works by Jared Nelson, Kiyon Ross, Yannis Adonious, Melissa Barak, and Nicole Haskins.  She often danced in the off season with American Contemporary Ballet. 

Lauryn taught ballet and variations at The Studio’s Summer Intensive Program for several summers, and has performed as guest star in the SCBT “Nutcracker” production twice.  She recently retired from dancing, moved back to Soquel with her husband Rob, and is currently pursuing a degree in nursing