Battle Cry: Sonya Tayeh’s Distinctive Voice
Sonya Tayeh is a firecracker. She bursts with persistence, innovation and indulgence in her art form. To talk to her, one would think she’s been immersed in dance her entire life, but the truth is she didn’t seriously start studying the dance form until college. Tayeh grew up in Detroit, Michigan and attended Henry Ford Community College, eventually transferring to the dance department at Wayne State University, but it wasn’t until the age of 25 that she finally graduated with her BFA. While some would consider 25 “too late” to start a dance career, Tayeh was ready to make up for lost time.
“[At Wayne State], I was under the direction of amazing women choreographers and teachers that I consider true historians of dance,” she says of her education. “They focused on how important it was to be an intelligent artist and an innovator of dance.” This was a contrast from her previous approach to dance, and her college education influenced the way she approaches class as an instructor even today.
“I remember being 17 and dying to dance but not having the best instruction,” she says. “All it did was close my mind and cripple my body. I couldn’t learn or grow. I made a pact with myself to never do that to any dancer.”
Tayeh made the trek to the West Coast after graduation, landing in San Francisco where she taught for The Dance Company of San Francisco (a company that touts alumni such as “So You Think You Can Dance” alumni Nick Lazzarini and Melody LaCayanga). She attributes her unique movement style to the four years she spent with the company. “That is where I truly came into my own as a choreographer,” Tayeh says. “I studied my body and knew how I wanted to move.”
Commercial choreography was beckoning the emerging artist, so it was time for her to move to another prominent West Coast city: Los Angeles. Unfortunately, this city is crawling with emerging choreographers, all vying for the same jobs and the same agents. Making sure the right people know who you are can be challenging.
“For the first nine months it was very difficult to figure out how to create a name for myself,” Tayeh says. “I then decided the only way to truly present myself as an innovative choreographer was to have my own show, so last November I did it!”
She produced a show entirely of her own choreography, titled “The Root of Me.” It was Tayeh’s first real opportunity to display her work for an L.A. audience, so she chose to show pieces that were very personal and defined the way she moves. “The Root of Me” was a smash success, selling more tickets than there were seats. In one of those seats was a representative from prominent dance agency McDonald/Selznick Associates, and Tayeh was signed a week later.
Photography by Justin Daniel & Rachel Angelini
“I immediately gave them my ‘dream’ list of what I wanted to accomplish for the year,” she says. “‘So You Think You Can Dance’ was first on my list. About three months later they told me I booked the job.”
Tayeh was originally booked for only two episodes of last season’s run, but she ended up working on three and choreographed some of the show’s most memorable pieces, including Mark and Courtney’s raw, aggressive jazz routine to “The Garden” by Mirah and Gev and Chelsie’s sweet, delicate contemporary routine to “These Arms of Mine” by Otis Redding. Working on the show gave Tayeh the opportunity to experience and present choreography in a completely new capacity and work with many quick-minded, dedicated young dancers. It also gave her a platform to put her original, unique style on network television in front of millions of viewers.
“That experience was so wonderful,” she says. “I learned how to be clear but quick and how to work behind the camera. The kids were wonderful to work with and very supportive. I was very proud to be a part of the show and also be a part of a project where I could be myself as an artist. It is very important for everyone to see and know that my work comes from me. It comes from my insides. I work very hard on my body and my brain so that I stay true to who I am.”
Since the last season of SYTYCD ended, Tayeh has been one of the most in-demand commercial choreographers, and attendance at her EDGE Performing Arts Center class has doubled. Anyone who has attended popular classes at EDGE knows it can be difficult for a student, especially one who is just visiting L.A., to become noticed at all, but Tayeh makes sure each student gets a chance.
“Because I didn’t start dancing until a later age then normal, I know how difficult dance is,” she says. “Because of this, I approach each dancer with patience and understanding. I refuse to give up on any student. I have found the right tone of voice and right words to keep the class moving and keep their minds at ease. Doing so, I see the students progress and become stronger, smarter dancers. So, even if I see a student once, I know I made the effort to make them aware and better. All students need is motivation and support!”
Tayeh is equally supportive to those who aspire to become choreographers in L.A. and elsewhere, urging them to take the time to discover personal movements and become an innovator within their genre. She believes it’s important to be a smart choreographer who is always gathering knowledge and developing his or her style. In fact, she has developed a mantra around this philosophy, saying that smarts leads to confidence, which leads to becoming noticeable, which leads to more work.
“If we don’t work on ourselves we will just recycle what’s already there, and dance will not be special anymore,” Tayeh says. “It’s the key to be a consistent, timeless artist.” As evidenced from her work, Tayeh has a well-developed style that is uniquely her own. Her strong, war-like movements are often generally categorized as “jazz,” for lack of a better term, but she finds this definition a bit deficient.
“It is very difficult for me to define myself in a genre of dance,” she says. “My movement is aggressive, tough and full of angst. If I needed to define it in a genre I guess I would call it “combat jazz.” The shapes and partnering are very at-war-like and strong.” This description is apparent while watching Tayeh’s choreography; precise, stop-action movement, combined with forceful floor work and deep lunged positions are all recurring themes. Transitions between each shape are wild, yet surprisingly controlled, drawing very strongly from the core.
Despite the fact Sonya’s choreography only appeared on SYTYCD three times, her distinctive flair for movement impressed The Man himself: Nigel Lythgoe. “I remember Nigel saying in the last episode I worked on, ‘If you line up 12 ‘So You Think You Can Dance’ choreographers and ask who choreographed that last piece, people would know it was Sonya.’ That statement was so moving to me because right then I knew I made a mark as an individual, noticeable choreographer.”
That statement marked a huge change in Tayeh’s career and in her life. Not only did she become a coveted asset on the choreography circuit, but the millions of SYTYCD viewers who had fallen in love with her on television began to give her celebrity status within the dance world. It doesn’t hurt that Tayeh has a very distinguishing fashion sense, making her easy to notice. She can usually be found proudly displaying several arm tattoos, dark eyeliners and lipsticks, a bottom lip piercing and of course, her signature hair style – shaved on the sides with a long, black lion’s mane heading down her back. “Since then, it has been a whirlwind,” she says, referring to SYTYCD. “Having people notice me in the streets is surreal but of course cool!”
Tayeh’s choreography will once again take the stage in November during her upcoming show “Battles” at the El Portal Theatre in North Hollywood. The show promises to explore the art of triumph, love and life – all highly fitting themes from a choreographer who has just begun to make her mark.
“Battles” takes place at 8 p.m. on November 6 and 7 at the El Portal Theatre in North Hollywood. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit ElPortalTheatre.com. Visit Sonya Tayeh on the web by visiting SonyaTayeh.com or Myspace.com/sonyatayeh.