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Jayla

@jayla_simone_

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“i wanna be defined by the things that i love”
🩰🎨🦖⭐️
uncsa ballet ‘25
artist w/ @confluenceballetco

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✨ Meet the Choreographers: Jayla Thacker & Grace E. Wellmon ✨

We're excited to feature @confluenceballetco and their original work, Nut Devours the Sun, at the 2026 Pittsburgh Choreography Festival.

Inspired by ancient Egyptian mythology, this contemporary ballet explores the story of Nut, goddess of the sky, and the eternal cycle of death and rebirth. Through powerful movement and storytelling, the work invites audiences to experience wonder, transformation, and renewal.

🎭 Pittsburgh Choreography Festival
📅 June 27, 2026
⏰ 7:00 PM
📍 Charity Randall Theatre

🎟️ Tickets are just $20!
🔗 Link to tickets in Bio.

#PCF2026 #PittsburghChoreographyFestival #ConfluenceBalletCompany #NutDevoursTheSun #ContemporaryBallet #PittsburghDance #SupportLivePerformance #DanceArts by @jayla_simone_

being the nutcracker in “The Nutcracker” was not on my 2025 bingo card ;) but i’m so grateful for this nutty season as Natalia in The Jazz Nutcracker with @confluenceballetco ❄️❤️ i’m so thankful i had my princessa @graciewellmon i really couldn’t have done it without you!! we sleighed 💅🏾🛷🫶🏾🫶🏾

excited for the opportunities 2026 has!🥂

📸: @ajsmith63 by @jayla_simone_

the very best of october 💘 by @jayla_simone_

it’s national dance day somewhere 🤷🏾‍♀️🥳

just had to post for my first one as a professional dancer 💅🏾
so excited for this new chapter i’ve started with @confluenceballetco 🫶🏾

been sitting on these photos for a while but i’m still so inspired from my shoot with @abowenstudios his work is incredible!! by @jayla_simone_

#nopressurenodiamonds 💎

this pickle has a bfa in classical ballet with a minor in arts entrepreneurship!! 🩰🥒👩🏾‍🎓

so grateful to have found myself through these transformative 4 years. uncsa gave me an environment to grow and develop as an artist as well as a safe place to fall and make (many) mistakes. i am so proud of myself for not just surviving but evolving into my truest, most authentic, vibrant self.

i’ll always be thankful for the amazing performance experiences that @uncsadance provided me with. as well as the support and love from faculty.

s/o to @98jade for being my ride or die you are the best gift i’ll leave uncsa with 🥲🫶🏾 by @jayla_simone_

lavender daydream 🪻🌤️💞

my emerging has been such a special experience, i learned so much about what i’m capable of. thanks @alliecataldi @gigi.mataya and @avajlindenmayer for being so amazing to collaborate with, i am so so thankful i had yall 🙏🏾 i’m so happy i got to choreograph my first piece to music by Joesph Bologne whose works i have been in love with since my Bridgerton obsession. i love how i could throw a lot of my other mediums and interests into lavender daydream. i spent a lotttt of time collaging on pinterest, but not as much as i spent sewing 😵 i consider myself an amateur seamstress (i was lowkey struggling) but i’m kinda obsessed with how these came out 🙂‍↔️

sum clips at the end 💕 by @jayla_simone_

- international dance day 🩰🫶🏾 (finally on time for something)
- paquita ‘25🧡
- last uncsa performance 🥲
- from freshman year spring rep to senior year spring dance 🔃 so happy to close out with this banger of a ballet 💥🧡 by @jayla_simone_

1: me to 2025
2: me to 2024

this year has been full of bliss and sorrows, but i’m grateful for it all and i’m so proud of my personal growth. i’m excited to keep evolving and for this fresh start 🤍
one last princess post to close out the year 👸🏽🩵 by @jayla_simone_

rip halloweekend 🫡 by @jayla_simone_

while i may be extremely late for this summer of la sylphide dump, i am perfectly on time for national dance day! 🩰💘 win some, lose some, but seriously this summer made me fall more deeply in love with ballet. so grateful for those five weeks filled with such fun, talented, passionate people. miss u all 🫶🏾 and i’ll always miss summers at @bocaballettheatre 🫶🏾🫶🏾 by @jayla_simone_

this role will forever be a dream 🫧🩵👸🏽

so so grateful and just in awe of this opportunity. learning this role at @dancetheatreofharlem with original cast members like the incredible @thedonaldwilliams 🫡🤯 and @charmainehunter 🙌🏾👑 it has been so enriching, inspiring, and one of the best times in my life. grateful to Dean Outlaw and @uncsadance for this experience and to the @kenaninstituteforthearts for making all this possible.

thanks to DTH dancers @a_ballerina_ @princederek14 for y’all’s kindness, the flowers, and videos you guys are beyond awesome!

@karl.in.motion what a great last performance being partners 🤍

#PrincessOfUnRealBeauty 💅🏽💁🏽‍♀️👑

dunno if international dance day is today or yesterday but let’s pretend it’s today lol 🩰🫶🏾 by @jayla_simone_

such a magical and inspiring night at the gala 🤍👗👸🏽

so much gratitude for this experience 🫶🏾✨ by @jayla_simone_