Area: Ballet
About:
Shayla Bott has taught for 24 years in private studios and in the University setting, including University of Utah, Utah Valley University (UVU) and currently as an Associate Professor at Brigham Young University (BYU). Shayla has served as the Artistic Director of UVU’s Repertory Ballet Ensemble, BYU Ballet Showcase Company, and BYU Theatre Ballet. From the University of Utah, Shayla holds a BFA in ballet performance and an MFA in ballet with a focus on music, choreography and pedagogy. After retiring from a professional career with Utah Metropolitan Ballet, she has continued to choreograph and teach in professional and academic venues. Shayla has successfully completed the ABT® Teacher Training Intensive in Pre-Primary through Level 3 of the ABT® National Training Curriculum. She has completed ballet technique teachers workshops from Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet (CPYB) and The Royal Ballet School Inspire program, and was invited to teach at the 5-week CPYB summer intensive. Additionally, she is certified in Progressing Ballet Technique (Junior, Senior, and Advanced programs), and Stott Pilates Matwork and Reformer. Shayla’s choreography has won several choreographic awards including the Utah Metropolitan Ballet Choreography Design Competition (1st place in 2008, 2010, 2016, and 2nd place in 2012) and the National Choreographic Recognition Award from RDA in Montreal in 2012 for her work “Weaker”. She has set original works on CPYB, Ballet Arkansas, Santa Cruz Ballet Theatre, Idaho Regional Ballet, Utah Metropolitan Ballet, BYU Theatre Ballet, BYU Showcase Company, BYU Contemporary Dance Theatre, UVU’s Repertory Ballet Ensemble, Ballet West Summer Intensive students, the University of Utah Ballet Ensemble and on Shayla Bott & Company and Ballet Arkansas for Chop Shop contemporary dance festival in Bellevue, Washington. Ms. Bott is currently serving on the Board of Directors for The Ballet Alliance, an organization of pre-professional companies.
Research Interests:
Contemporary and neo-classical ballet choreography; the use of music in the ballet technique class