Wildcat Tracks: Lorianne Wolf Hagan ’97
How many times have you heard the advice “Find something you love to do and your job will never feel like work!”? That is exactly what happened for professional dancer Lorianne Wolf Hagan ’97. “I have been a dancer for as long as I can remember,” she said. “When I was younger, I would wake up, go to school, then head straight to the dance studio. Not much has changed for me as an adult! I am blessed to wake up each day and go to a job that I love immensely.” Currently, Hagan serves as an adjunct faculty member in the Department of Dance at Webster University and is the artistic and program director at MJ Performing Arts Academy.
Her passion for performing continued into high school at Westminster where Hagan was a member of the dance team, serving as captain her junior and senior years. “I also performed or choreographed in various musicals and plays under teachers Kathy Eichelberger and IIa Klemm,” Hagan said. She also participated in Spirit Week, helping to plan the infamous lip-sync routines. Hagan’s time at WCA had a definite influence on her future. “I had an amazing time at Westminster! God had a plan for my life and Westminster was the perfect fit for me,” she said. “It’s hard to pick one teacher who had an impact on my life because all of them left a positive footprint,” Hagan said. “But Kathy Eichelberger really opened my eyes to all the opportunities performing arts had to offer. I have said many times in my life that I would not be an artist if it wasn’t for her. She opened my eyes to new opportunities, while always showing me kindness, support, grace, perseverance, and more. I owe a lot of who I am today to her!”
Hagan went on to graduate with a bachelor of fine arts in dance with departmental honors from Webster University. She then moved to New York City and continued her training at Broadway Dance Center, Danspace Project, and Steps on Broadway. Hagan also worked as a performer, director, and choreographer with past members of Cirque du Soleil in “Circo Magnifico.” She has now been studying all forms of dance, acrobatics, and acrobatic gymnastics for over thirty years! Hagan has been married to her husband Ben for sixteen years and they have an eleven-year-old son, Gavin. In her role at Webster University, she chairs the Ballet Committee and teaches classes in acrobatics, ballet, jazz, and topics in Dance NYC. For Hagan, this means her life as a dancer has come full circle. “As an educator, it’s my goal to give my students a strong performing arts education while at the same time, providing them with an inspiring, positive, supportive, and passionate atmosphere,” she said. “I encourage them to find something which they are passionate about and excited to get up and do each and every day!”
This alumni spotlight was originally featured in the January 2019 issue of our alumni newsletter, Wildcat Tracks.
