My Story, Ayala Abrams:
“If you ask my mother, I started dancing when I was a baby in Mother/baby dance classes. But my first official class was at CDF when I was three with Mary Foshee. I danced at CDF until I was about 10 years old when it became clear to my parents that I was intensely serious about dance and I wanted to fill my schedule every day with even more of it. I also wanted to prepare to join the Alabama School of Fine Arts, which back then had a preparatory program, so I moved my studies there. But I remember my time at CDF very fondly. It was a home. I was nurtured and encouraged and never felt a shred of competitiveness or nastiness from my fellow dancers which is saying A LOT. That’s a hard thing to cultivate with young girls in this industry. And I’ve had and heard of many teachers who believed you had to be broken down in order to get stronger. CDF definitely gave me a foundation, one of care and creativity that has lasted me a long time. I had to take a gap year after college to deal with medical issues (cancer treatment) and during my chemo I actually made it back to CDF as an adult to take some of their adult classes and attend an improvisation jam. I was a bit of a mess during that period to say the least, but CDF was a safe place, a little odd to revisit so many years later, but it was clear I was welcome there and I had a great experience taking class then.
At the age of 28 I am still dancing. Professionally actually. My career has taken me to dance in companies abroad where it was my full time job. I was with Kibbutz Contemporary Dance Company and Kolben Dance Company. Currently I am back in the USA in New York City where I dance with Peridance Contemporary Dance Company. I have toured to numerous cities in Europe and the US and worked with many choreographers around the world during my career as well.
I will probably be dancing forever at this point. Whether I like it or not.”
Photos:
1 and 2: Ayla performing
3: Ayla age 3. “The photo is from my first recital from the 3 yr old creative movement class. I was a bubble.”
4: Ayla headshot
