Sonya Tayeh
Raised in Detroit, Michigan, Sonya Tayeh gives some credit to the culture of the city as being one of the foundations of her dance style. Her style of dance is short, aggressive, and full of life. Tayeh calls the unique flavor of her style “combat jazz.” The dancer and choreographer started dancing in college at Wayne State University, and in the year 2002 she graduated with a Bachelors of Fine Arts.
Today Tayeh is a dance instructors at dance studios in California. Her strong and stylized movements in her routines have made her focus in teaching contemporary funk and progressive contact. You might also recognize Tayeh from the hit television show “So You Think You Can Dance.” She is often on the show choreographing routines for the contestants.
Take a look at some of her amazing works of art.
This is a clip from season 5 of the show with Kayla and Kupona dancing to “Eyes of Fire.” Notice the quick movements and the aggression in the whole dance.
Here Chelsie and Gev perform to Otis Redding’s “These Arms of Mine.” Again you can see some of the typical movements from Tayeh that show in her routines.
This routine is contemporary dance at its best. Marko and Allison from season 8 perform the routine by Tayeh.
