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“The tapestry of the fairy's flat-footed walk, splayed feet, precision toe work, thrust pelvis, and staccato arms perfectly captures her hair-trigger temper and abrupt mood swings. Not surprisingly, Lawson garnered the biggest cheers of the evening.”
– The Globe and Mail, 2006
Born in Edmonton Alberta, Lawson began her first 12 years of training with the Edmonton School of Ballet. She left home at the age of 16 to further her studies at the Royal Winnipeg Ballet School where she received the Prince Edward Award and graduated with distinction in 1996. Lawson was hired into the company the following year as an apprentice, promoted to soloist in 2002 and became a principal dancer in the 2005/06 season.
Lawson has performed many principal roles since joining the RWB. The first of such roles was in David Nixon’s Butterfly, when Nixon picked Lawson from the corps de ballet to perform the lead. In the 2001/02 season she worked with Sir Peter Wright to dance the dramatic and technical role of ‘Giselle.’ After that experience she fell in love with the character and it has become one of her favourite roles.
Other roles that Lawson enjoys include ‘Odette/Odile’ in Galina Yardonova’s staging of Swan Lake, ‘Lucy’ in Mark Godden’s Dracula, ‘Pamina’ in Mark Godden’s The Magic Flute and the tender ‘Cours D’Amour’ in Mauricio Wainrot’s Carmina Burana. She has also performed many Balanchine ballets and loves the athleticism, precision and musicality they demand.
This past season Lawson sparkled as ‘Tinker Bell’ in Jorden Morris’ world premiere of Peter Pan. She also enjoyed performing in the physically demanding Hikarizatto, revisiting her role of ‘Lucy’ in Dracula on tour and dancing the lead role of ‘Nancy’ in Val Caniparoli’s A Cinderella Story.
Lawson appeared as a guest artist internationally, most recently dancing Don Quixote Pas de Deux throughout Mexico. She was also invited to dance at the Benois de La Dance Gala performance on the Bolshoi stage in Moscow. She went with partner Jaime Vargas who was nominated for the prestigious award for his role in The Magic Flute.
This season Lawson will reprise the roles of ‘Princess Aurora’ in The Sleeping Beauty and ‘Clara’ in Nutcracker and will perform the role of ‘Destiny’ in Mauricio Wainrot’s new production of Carmen, The Passion.
“Lawson proved that her greatest strength is her fragility. Here barely-there presence belies an astonishing physical strength, with her sinewy arms and trembling feet capturing all of Odette's yearning vulnerability.”
– Winnipeg Free Press, 2005
“Lawson’s pristine line and attention to strict technique are exactly what Wainrot’s fiercely direct choreography demands.”
– Winnipeg Free Press, 2004
“Lawson brings a sweetness and naiveté to the role that makes Giselle’s ultimate betrayal all the more poignant.”
– Georgia Straight, 2002
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