dancer | teacher | artist 

Kayla DeGaray grew up in Colorado Springs, Colorado and began her dance training at the age of 11. After falling in love with performing, she continued training at Colorado Ballet Society under the direction of Patricia Hoffman. Following her graduation in 2017, she chose to continue her dance education at Butler University where she received her Bachelor of Arts in Dance Pedagogy along with a minor in Business Administration. While dancing with Butler Ballet she performed numerous demi soloist and soloist roles in ballets such as Le Corsaire and the Nutcracker. In addition to performing full length ballets, Kayla has toured and performed contemporary works with Butler Ballet throughout Eastern Europe.

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Following her graduation from Butler University in May of 2021, Kayla accepted a position with the Kansas City Ballet Second Company. While there, under the direction of Christopher Ruud, she danced in ballets such as Devon Carney's the Nutcracker, Michael Pink's Dracula, and Septime Webre's the Wizard of Oz. In addition to working with the main company, Kayla participated in many outreach performances throughout the Kansas City area.

 

For the 2022/2023 season Kayla joined Ballet Tucson under the direction of Margaret Mullin. Since joining Ballet Tucson she has had the opportunity to originate roles in ballets choreographed by both Chieko Imada and Margaret Mullin. Kayla also had the opportunity to work with Zippora Karz on George Balanchine's Allegro Briallante and Walpurgisnaught. 

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When not dancing she enjoys hiking, painting, and teaching dance at local studios and through dance outreach programs.