Torya Beard

WORK HISTORY

EDUCATION

SKILLS

ABOUT TORYA BEARD

Torya Beard is a New York-based director, creative consultant, curator, choreographer, and producer specializing in dance and theater. Her curvy professional path reflects a deep curiosity about and belief in the boundless possibilities at the intersection of creativity, artistic expression, and social justice.After studying dance at The University of Michigan, she toured with Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Ensemble, David Rousseve/Reality, The Kevin Wynn Collection, Ronald K. Brown/Evidence, Earl Mosley\'s Diversity of Dance, Deeply Rooted Chicago Dance Theatre, and Donald Byrd\'s The Harlem Nutcracker, among others. She was a featured dancer in the film \"Idlewild\" and made her Broadway debut in \"Disney\'s The Lion King.\" Torya has developed a collaborative partnership with Tap artist Ayodele Casel. Projects with Ayodele include; Ayodele Casel + Arturo O’Farrill at The Joyce Theater (Creative Director/Assistant Choreographer); Diary of a Tap Dancer V.4 (Director); While I Have the Floor (Producer);\"Really Rosie\"(Assistant Choreographer), City Center Encores! Off-Center; Rooted (Creative Director), for the inaugural five-borough tour of New York City Center’s On the Move;\"Diary of a Tap Dancer V.6: Us\"(Co-Curator/Co-Director); commissioned by New York City Center. She and Ayodele are Resident Directors of Dance Lab New York’s inaugural Tap Project and co-curators of Little Island’s inaugural dance festival. Other projects; YoungArts (Regional Multidisciplinary Co-Director), Classical Theatre of Harlem\'s \"The First Noel\"(Associate Choreographer),(All-Female)\"Jesus Christ Superstar - In Concert,\" and \"She is Risen\"(Producer), Idina Menzel 2017 World Tour (Creative Director), Harvard University ArtLab (Arts Administration Consultant, Fall 2019), “Waitress” Broadway 2021 (Assistant Director). Torya is currently Executive Director at A BroaderWay Foundation, Director of Original Tap House, Artistic Director at Excellence Community Schools, Co-Founder of the artist-led social enterprise, tall poPpy, and serves on the board for Earl Mosley\'s Diversity of Dance. Learn more about Torya at toryabeard.com.