Lori Higbee grew up dancing and figure skating in Minneapolis, Minnesota. At the age of 13 she moved to Utah and decided to change her focus to dance. Lori began her college training for four years at Utah State University, where she was on scholarship and danced on Danceworks Touring Company. 

Lori then moved to the University of Idaho in Moscow, where she earned scholarships, finished her BS in Dance Pedagogy with basic certification in Labanotation, and graduated senior of the year. She danced on Dance Theater Company and Dancers Drummers Dreamers Ensemble. She has worked with many influential dancers in her life such as Bill Evans, Lucy Venable, Doug Varone, Lorraine Person-Kreigal, Joan Woodbury, Shirley Ririe, Henning Rubsam, Kim Strunk, Stephen Koester, Todd Allen, and more. After graduation Lori began teaching at the university, where she learned that she wanted to spend her life inspiring others with her passion for dance. 

Lori has over 20 years of experience teaching, performing, and choreographing for all ages in private studios, public schools, universities, and professional companies. She is passionate about helping dancers find their path in this art. She enjoys teaching modern, contemporary, improvisation, composition, and has a special love for teaching creative dance for young aspiring dancers. 

Lori currently directs the Contemporary dance program at Elevate Dance Academy in Lehi, Utah. 

Lori is also a master lead teacher for Minding Motion for Graceful Aging, a specialized dance class for senior citizens and those with Parkinson’s Disease and Alzheimer’s. She is the Owner and Director of a humanitarian-focused touring dance company called Reach Dance Company. Reach focuses on bringing educational dance performances to small villages throughout the world. They have toured Guatemala and Peru, bringing dance to children worldwide. Lori is passionate about dance education, and is currently a member of the Utah Dance Education Board of Directors—where has served for four years as Private Sector Rep—and is now the President-Elect. Lori also loves staying active, and has been teaching Zumba for 10 years. She loves yoga, snowboarding, the outdoors, and is a devoted wife and mother of four who resides in Alpine, Utah.