Lorraine Graves was born in Norfolk, Virginia and began her classical training at the Academy of the Norfolk Ballet under the direction of the late Gene Hammett. In later years she was awarded full scholarships to the School of American Ballet and the American Ballet Center. Upon graduation from high school, she attended Indiana University at Bloomington completing a four year program in three years earning a Bachelor of Science Degree in Ballet with Distinction.

Ms. Graves began her professional career with the Dance Theatre of Harlem rising to the rank of Principal Dancer within one year and three years later, become Ballet Mistress in addition to her duties as a dancer.

Ms. Graves’ performance credits with DTH included Giselle, FireBird, Footprints Dressed in Red, The River, Toccata E Due Canzoni, Etosha, Serenade, The Four Temperaments, Agon, Allegro Brilliante, and the role of the Siren in George Balanchine’s The Prodigal Son.

Ms. Graves has extensive teaching experience including, the North Carolina School of the Arts, The Governor’s School for the Arts in Virginia, The Virginia School of the Arts in Lynchburg, VA, The Cornish Institute in Seattle, WA., the Oklahoma Summer Arts Institute, South Carolina Governor’s School of the Arts, and the Virginia Ballet Theater.

Ms. Graves is permanent guest faculty for the Virginia School of the Arts, and is on the Master Teacher Faculty at Dance Theater of Harlem. She is an invited guest teacher for the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and is also lead adjudicator for the West Virginia Dance Festival.

Ms. Graves returned to her hometown where she is currently on faculty of the Governor’s School of the Arts. She is also Chairman of the Norfolk Commission on the Arts and Humanities, a member of the Mayor’s Downtown Task Force, a member of the Links Inc, a member of the Todd Rosenlieb Dance Company Board and is Secretary/Treasurer of her family’s business, Graves Funeral Home.