Laura Mendes is originally from Brazil and graduated from the Joffrey Ballet School on a merit scholarship. During her training, she worked with Greg Lau, Omar Roman, Antonia Franceschi, and Yin Yue. In 2019, she studied Forsythe Technique at Staatsballett Berlin, in a workshop led by Ayman Harper. She spent summers at Nederlands Dans Theater (Full Scholarship Award), Orsolina28 with Ohad Naharin, Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, Springboard with Jermaine Spivey and Spenser Theberge, A.I.M with Kyle Abraham himself, and GALLIM.
Laura was a company member and Rehearsal Assistant with Joffrey Ballet Concert Group. She assisted Bradley Shelver with his new work with Graham II. In Europe, Laura performed a premiere by Paxton Ricketts, and excerpts by Crystal Pite (Partita for 8 Dancers and The Tempest), Jirí Kylian (Toss of a Dice), and Hofesh Shechter (Vladmir).
Joining Visceral Dance, performed works by Micaela G. Taylor, Rena Butler, Shannon Alvis, Roderick George, Marco Palomino, and took the lead role of Carmen by Gustavo Ramírez. Carmen was listed among the top 10 performances in Chicago by the Chicago Tribune. In commercial work and TV, she was the lead dancer in a Pantene hair campaign, and recently danced alongside Micaela G. Taylor in a short film entitled "Nostalgia" Pt 2. A film part of the "Past, Present, Future" festival by All Arts TV (PBS). Laura is also currently an AGMA (American Guild of Musical Artists) member with The Lyric Opera of Chicago.
