Ashayla Byrd

Ashayla Byrd (she/her/hers), raised in Virginia Beach, Virginia, began her dance training at eight years old at Old Donation Center for the Gifted and Talented (ODC). She then trained intensely at the Visual and Performing Arts Academy at Salem High School to strengthen her technique. She explored her love of the arts at Shenandoah University (SU), graduating with a BA in both Dance & English. While at SU, Ashayla received the inaugural Jamal Barzinji Scholar Award for her research about decolonizing the Eurocentrism of dance history syllabi. Ashayla also served as the President of both the Sigma Rho Delta Dance Fraternity as well as the Shenandoah Conservatory Student Council. She has worked with professional artists including Tiffanie Carson, Daniel Padierna, Jacob Brent, Maurice Fraga, Casey Noblett, Eddy Ocampo, Yoshito Sakuraba, and Anna María Alvarez while also collaborating with various student choreographers. Since graduating from Shenandoah in May 2021, Ashayla has worked as both the Communication and Curatorial Intern as well as the Financial Assistant at Dance Place while also performing with various DMV-based choreographers. She hopes to continue studying dance and the communities who engage with it while also creating equitable, decolonized creative spaces for all people. She is ecstatic to be joining the Dance Place team as a staff member! 

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