Today we’d like to introduce you to Nyia.
Hi Nyia , so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
When I was 7 years old I spent the week with my aunt who owned a dance studio at the time and was hosting a summer program. One day I asked if I could take class and she allowed me to join. I don’t remember much about the class but I do remember having a lot of fun. After that week spent with her she told my mom that she needed to put in dance lessons because she could see that I had potential. That fall my mom enrolled me in dance classes at Marcia Hyland Dance Studio where I started off taking Ballet and Jazz. From there, I went on to train other styles such as Modern (Horton Technique), Tap, Hip Hop and West African dance. Most of my formal training took place at Eleone Dance Unlimited (now BAM Dance Akademy) and Grace Dance Theater. Throughout my high school years I dance with two pre-professional companies, Eleone Connection, the second company of Eleone Dance Theater and G2, the second company of Grace Dance Theater. I knew from a young age that I wanted dance to be my career so I went on to study dance in college at Towson University and received my B.F.A in Dance Performance and Choreography in 2020. While at Towson I was also on my college dance team, Towson University Pom Squad where we performed at home football and basketball games and competed at UDA College Nationals. Post grad I was unsure what the future would hold because we were in the height of Covid-19 and everything was shut down. I eventually moved back to Maryland and after living there for a year and training I auditioned for the Wizards Dancers (Washington Wizards) and made the team! I spent three seasons on the team and was Captain in my final season. I also was appointed as an Assistant Coach for our children’s entertainment teams, Wiz Kids and Mystics Mayhem (WNBA). While on the team I had the opportunity to travel to Japan, perform with artists such as Ludacris and perform in front of thousands of fans for all 41 home games. Unfortunately I had to make the decision to retire after my third season due to needing a major hip surgery to correct my hip dysplasia in 2024. I was heart broken because mentally I wasn’t ready for my journey with the team to end but I knew this was the best decision to make. Full recovery from my PAO took about a year but I resumed classes around the 6 month mark. After my 1 year follow up I began auditioning again, hopeful to make my return to the professional dance space. Recovering from my PAO was not easy and there were definitely more tough days than there were good days but my faith and determination never wavered. Recently I had the opportunity perform in the atmosphere cast at The R&B Tour at Metlife Stadium with Usher and that was truly the experience of a lifetime. I feel like that was just a glimpse at how good things are going to get. So until then, I continue to train and prepare for the next opportunity!
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Definitely not a smooth road! My journey post PAO is truly the hardest thing I’ve ever gone through because it’s just as much mental as it is physical. Of course as an artist you have your moments of doubt but learning to walk and move again added a new level of fear and pressure. 1 year post-op I physically felt ready to re-enter the space but mentally I wasn’t. My body felt different and I was fearful that I wouldn’t live up to the expectations I set for myself. Through my journey with PAO recovery I realized that I didn’t need to be the exact dancer I once was and I gave myself permission to evolve into new performer.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I specialize in dance performance and am slowly making my way into the choreographic space! I love all things creative so I also dabble in content creation from time to time. At this stage, I am most proud of my resilience and ability to bounce back despite what is thrown my way. I think my versatility and adaptability is something that sets me apart from others.
Is there something surprising that you feel even people who know you might not know about?
People may not know that I have a non-profit that I started in 2019 to aid in Sepsis Awareness. It’s called Strides Against Sepsis!
Contact Info:
- Instagram: nyianikol_
