Dance Makers 2024 Program

and New Media at New York University’s Tisch School of Arts. She has toured and
performed professionally with Sapphire Moon Dance Company, Vibrations Dance
Company, T.O. Dance Inc., The Power Company Collaborative, and NYU’s Second
Avenue Dance Company. Salley enjoys sharing the joy and passion of dance with all
ages. She has a “mind, body, spirit” approach to dance and relishes refining her craft
as a performer and teacher, promoting health, healing, and happiness through dance
and enhancing community relations. Predominantly teaching Tap, Afro-Fusion, and
Kids classes, Salley is inspired by rhythm, culture, and dance as a universal language.
When not dancing, she enjoys reading, spending time with loved ones and her dogs,
outdoor and aquatic activities in nature, viewing sunsets, and doing anything that
makes her laugh out loud!
Xiao-Xuan Yang Dancigers (Founding Company
Member/Associate Director of SCDE), nominated for
Best Female Dancer in Australia in 2009, has performed
throughout Asia, Europe, Australia, and the United
States with Australian Dance Theater and Cloudgate 2.
Previously an Assistant Professor at the Taipei National
University of Arts, she has danced and choreographed
with Sarasota Contemporary Dance since 2012. In 2013,
Xiao-Xuan co-choreographed “Dreamfall’’ featuring music by NOW Ensemble with
Leymis Bolaños Wilmott. She has also danced as a soloist in Leymis’ “Summer Days”,
of which the Sarasota Herald-Tribune wrote, “With…Dancigers’ total ownership of
the characterization, was stunning.” She was also a soloist in Gerri Houlihan’s “Every
Little Movement’’, of which the Bradenton Herald wrote, “A highlight on opening night
was the long and unspeakably gorgeous solo by Xiao-Xuan Yang Dancigers. If you
appreciate dance at all, you find yourself wishing the solo would never end.” In 2017,
she choreographed and performed the solo “Signal” for New Music New College to
music by Luciano Berio, with the Herald-Tribune calling the performance “stunning...
precise”. Xuan loves to perform and choreograph. She is extremely passionate about
teaching young dancers. Since 2019, she has co-directed the SCD Ensemble and
teaches “Dance for Joy’’ at Aviva Senior Living in Sarasota.
MaKayla Lane (Apprentice & Administrative
Assistant) was born and raised in Dallas, Texas, where she
found her love for dance at the Fort Worth Academy of
Fine Arts. She then attended Point Park University, earning
a Bachelor of Fine Arts in spring 2023. During her time at
Point Park, she has performed in various works by Jason
McDole, Jesse Factor, Kiesha Lalama, Kiki Lucas, and others.
While in Pittsburgh, she also took part in events within the
community. She has performed with the Pittsburgh CLO,
Botanic Gardens, and the world-renowned Pittsburgh Steelers. As much as she loves
the stage, she also loves to teach and choreograph. Working with Dance Masters 2022,
as well as various studios around the area, MaKayla has been able to inspire many
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