The Ailey School

Ava Eriksen-Oertle (they/she) was born and raised in Salt Lake City, beginning their dance training at age 4. Training at the Salt Lake Dance Center under the direction of Jillana Webb, she took part in years of competitions and ballet productions. At age 15, they started high school at the Salt Lake School for the Performing Arts, where they trained under Bethany Hansen, Michelle Armstrong, and Jessie Metcalf-McCollough. At Salt Lake Dance Center, they studied fundamentals and modern dance, Giordano jazz and Vaganova ballet. They also performed works by Ashley Vilos, Amelia Millward, Bushaun Williams, and Brad Beakes. In 2019, Ava began training in the Ailey/Fordham BFA Program, when they continued to build their technical skills and expand on artistry. They have also had the honor to work with choreographers including Janice Rosario, Winston Dynamite Brown, Helen Simoneau, Cameron McKinney, and Ethan Colangelo. They hope to continue finding joy and creativity in movement, and take their love of dance into a professional career.