From Australia to Sonoma Academy: How Tayla Nielsen brought dance back to SA

Who is Tayla?

Dance Teacher Tayla Nielsen still gets mistaken for a student every so often. One time, when Nielsen was getting lunch, a student began to yell at her, thinking she was a student trying to cut through the staffulty line. “I was standing in the teacher’s lunch line and someone started yelling at me,” she said. “I had to tell them, ‘I work here!’”

While some of us know Nielsen as a substitute rather than a student, others know her through countless hours of dance practice and teaching. But there is more to Sonoma Academy’s dance coach than we may know.

Nielsen grew up in Australia before moving to the United States at eleven years old. She had experimented with dance when she was in her hometown, freestyling in her house to Michael Jackson songs and recording herself. “I used to set up a camera and record myself dancing,” she said with a laugh.

When she came to the U.S. and her family settled in Northern California, she decided to try dance in a more formal way. She signed up for ballet classes and quickly realized that maybe another type of dance was a better option. “I soon learned that ballet was not really my style,” Nielsen explained. When she had her first class, she was very nervous: “I hid in the corner, and I barely moved.” She added, “I was like ‘I’m never coming back. I’m never doing this again.’” But she kept going, trying out new styles, and soon realized that hip-hop was her passion.

Her love for hip-hop eventually led her to competitive dance. She started teaching when she was only fourteen years old, when her high school needed someone to choreograph a dance for a school event. A student suggested Nielsen, and she was suddenly responsible for choreographing a routine for about 60 freshmen. “That was my first time ever working with a massive group,” she said. “It was scary, but it was also really exciting.”

After this experience at Sonora High School, she continued choreographing, working at a local dance studio, then choreographing competitive routines as well. One of her early dances she choreographed won first place in a national competition. “That was a moment where I thought, ‘oh… maybe I’m actually good at this,’” Nielsen said.

When she started considering teaching more formally, she thought of a teacher she had in the past who really made an impact on her. “I had an English teacher who really inspired me,” she said. “I want to be that kind of teacher for someone else someday.” This teacher also inspired Nielsen to earn her English degree, and Nielsen hopes to teach English as a subject one day, just like her former teacher.

Sonoma Academy Dance

In Sonoma Academy, the dance program exists mainly because students pushed for it. Theater Director Jen Coté said students had been asking for dance classes for years. While dance appeared in musical performances sometimes, students wanted a more dance-focused program in the school’s arts department.

So, SA started the hunt for a dance teacher.

Nielsen applied for the job, even though there were some qualifications the position required that she did not fully meet at the time. Despite that, she impressed the hiring department. “Half the part of building your career is showing up,” Coté said, “and Tayla is someone who shows up.”

During the interviewing process, Nielsen and Coté found out they had a surprising connection. They both lived in the same small town and attended the same high school. Though in different years, it was unexpected nonetheless.

And, they both agreed that their high school experience was very different from the environment at Sonoma Academy. “We both couldn’t wait to get out,” Coté said laughing.

Since Nielsen joined SA, the dance program and community have also changed.

Senior Dance Captain Lulu Kimball said that Nielsen’s teaching technique is very different from what she has experienced in traditional ballet classes growing up. “She’s really easy to talk to,” Kimball said, adding, “She lets you give your input on the dances.”

Kimball had mostly trained in classical ballet and modern dance before joining Dance Corps, and, at first, she wasn’t very sure about learning hip-hop. “I never thought I would like hip-hop before Tayla,” she said. “But now I actually really enjoy it.”

Nielsen gives students space to grow in their dance skills, and helps them expand their knowledge to different types of dances. Since she joined the SA community, she has been helping to create a program where students can feel comfortable trying new things and expressing themselves through dance. For many, Nielsen and her instruction have opened the door to styles and different experiences they might not have explored otherwise.

Impact

Through her encouragement and friendly vibe, many students started taking interest in dance, such as Riley Musallam (‘27), who started dancing with Nielsen her sophomore year. Nielsen was one of the first people who helped her start dance, and that eventually led to Musallam working with Nielsen during a summer dance camp. Musallam said her teaching style is great, because she is strict, but also fun. “It’s really enjoyable.” Musallam said. “She makes it very clear that she’s the teacher, but she leaves a lot of room for comfort and adaptability within the choreography. There’s room to make it your own, and do what suits you best.”

Coté said one of the most important things about Nielsen is the passion she brings to work. She said that Nielsen’s dedication goes beyond just teaching choreography; it extends to truly caring about her students and their growth. “She deeply loves this art form,” Coté said, “and she loves watching students improve and realize what they are capable of.”

Kimball said the genuine care Nielsen has for her students is what stands out most. According to her, Nielsen creates a space where dancers feel comfortable expressing themselves and trying out new things. “She actually cares about her students’ well being and mental health,” she said. “She really takes the time to get to know people.”

For Musallam, Nielsen is very approachable and is always happy when students stop by to say hello, even students outside of Dance Corps. She said students should feel comfortable greeting her just as they would any other teacher on campus. “She genuinely loves to get to know students,” Musallam said. “And she loves subbing. She really enjoys talking to people who aren’t in dance.”

From freestyling in her home to leading the dance program at Sonoma Academy, Nielsen’s desire to share her love for dance with others has pushed her to create a community that helps students try new things, share ideas, be creative, improve and grow both as dancers and as people.