Choreographer Ayodele Casel Didn't Take Her First Dance Class Until College
How big of a deal is Funny Girl tap choreographer Ayodele Casel in the dance world? Let’s just say she has her own U.S. postage stamp. (And yes, she’s used it!)
Her star status is all the more impressive considering Ayodele didn’t take her first dance class until college. (She was introduced to Ginger Rogers’s work in high school and became “obsessed,” tap-dancing sans actual tap shoes in her bedroom.)
But Ayodele’s go-go-go mentality got a reality check in 2021, when she smashed her left knee into a cabinet. She pushed through the pain—until her knee gave out and she was diagnosed with deep fissures in her cartilage.
9: The age when a non-Spanish-speaking Ayodele moved from the Bronx to Puerto Rico and learned the importance of being able to express herself. The experience inspired her to become a performer.
Nowadays, Ayodele has learned to slow down, incorporating warm-ups and recovery practices into her routine. “The things that seem like luxuries are helpful for maintaining your body.”
Here, more lessons she's learned during her career:
Remember that your identity is a superpower
“How you grew up, the food you ate, the culture you experienced…those are unique gifts for the world. Share them joyfully—that’s the ticket to connection.”
Trust the journey.
“The best advice I’ve received was from dancer Jimmy Slyde. He said, ‘Don’t compete.’ As I’ve gotten older, I’ve realized every artist has their own talent. Just trust and believe that you’re exactly where you’re supposed to be."
Respect the mind-body connection
“Your emotional life plays into how your body reacts. When you don’t take a moment to breathe or time for yourself, life’s challenges pile up and can turn into injuries.”
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