KAYLA NIAS
Company Director & Lyrical Coach
In 2003, at just three years old, Kayla embarked on her dance journey, and her passion for dance has only grown since. She began with ballet and tap at Simply Dance in Port St. Lucie, Florida. After moving to Baltimore, Maryland, she continued to nurture her love for dance, training with Katie Walker (formerly "Dobry") at the Baltimore Dance Center under Shannon Salemi's guidance. When Katie Dobry and her colleague Katie Scott (formerly "Hopper") opened Underground Dance Academy (UDA) in 2010, Kayla eagerly followed. She spent nearly a decade at UDA, where these inspiring mentors not only taught her the art of performance but also the power of dance to create close-knit, expressive
communities. Kayla graduated proudly in 2018 from the George Washington Carver Center for the Arts and Technology, specializing in Ballet and Modern Dance under the mentorship of Stephanie Powell, Maria Royals, and Elizabeth Ahearn. As a member of the Inertia Dance Company, she graced the Carver Center stage and was part of the Baltimore County All-County Honors Dance Ensemble from 2015 to 2018. During her undergraduate years at Howard University, Kayla was a member of the Howard University Bisonette Dance Ensemble, performing at school sporting events and engaging with the Washington, D.C. community through various performances and outreach programs. Kayla even had the opportunity to perform alongside the Washington Wizard Dancers! After graduation, she felt a strong pull back to her roots at Underground Dance Academy, where she began a new chapter, dedicated to nurturing the next generation of talented dancers. Her versatility shines in her mastery of various dance styles, with a special love for lyrical dance. Across the D.C., Maryland, and Virginia areas, Kayla has skillfully shared her knowledge with students of all ages and levels. Her teaching philosophy extends beyond technique; she aspires to be a guiding mentor, helping her students discover themselves and their true motivations for dancing—their "WHY."
Her love for working with children extends beyond the dance studio, where she is passionate about making an impact in the classroom and fostering the growth of young minds as a classroom teacher. Watching her students learn, develop confidence, and blossom as individuals is a source of great fulfillment for her. Kayla is committed to inspiring the next generation, whether in the studio or in school, and loves guiding her students as they discover their potential.
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