Ashayla Byrd (she/they), a dance writer, artist, and administrator, supports dance communities by creating brave spaces for queer, Black, and/or Brown folks to witness and be in fellowship with one another and amplifying their voices. She currently serves as the Conference Production Associate for the Association of Performing Arts Professionals following her time as the Manager of Executive Affairs. Prior, Ashayla served as the Presentation Administrative Assistant at Dance Place in Washington, DC. She has danced with professional artists including dani tirrell, Mark Caserta, Tiffanie Carson, Yoshito Sakuraba, Gesel Mason, and Anna María Alvarez. She is a dance journalist with publications in Dancing in the District, The Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center, and Memoirs of Blacks in Ballet. Ashayla is eager to explore the richness of dance and writing communities everywhere!