Lara O'Brien grew up in Crystal Lake, Illinois outside Chicago. She began dancing at the age of 8 and trained with the School
of Ballet Chicago and the School of American Ballet in New York City. In 2000 Ms. O'Brien was the Dance American National Cultural Exchange scholarship student and was chosen to train
at the Royal Danish Ballet for two months. She joined Carolina Ballet in 2001 as a member of the corps de ballet and was made a soloist in 2004.  In 2011, Ms. O'Brien was promoted to Principal.

Roles Choreographed on Ms. O'Brien
by Robert Weiss
Des Images
The Woman with the Parasol in Gardens at Giverny
Grosse Fuge
Backstage at the Ballet
Princess variation in Swan Lake

by Lynne Taylor-Corbett
The Ugly Duckling
Appalachian Stories, Carolina Jamboree
Love Speaks

by Tyler Walters
Kick

Featured Roles with Carolina Ballet
Carmen
Romeo and Juliet
Coppelia
Messiah
Nutcracker
Tempest Fantasy
Lost and Found (Choreographed by Lynne Taylor-Corbett)
Intrigue (by Timour Bourtasenkov)
Light and Dark (by Timour Bourtasenkov)
Five Geometric Dances (by Tyler Walters)
Game Over (by Tyler Walters)
Miraculous Mandarin (by Attila Bongar)
The Moor's Pavane (by Jose Limon)
Movement Poem (by Christopher Wheeldon)
The American (by Christopher Wheeldon)
Les Esprits d'Eau (by Donald Mahler)
Soaring (by Donald Mahler)

by George Balanchine
Agon
La Sonnambula
Prodigal Son
Who Cares?
Divertimento #15
A Midsummer Night's Dream
The Four Temperaments
Rubies
Square Dance
Donizetti Variations
Allegro Brillante
Concerto Barocco
Valse Fantaisie


Pointe Shoes sponsored by
Mr. Thomas E. Powell, IV