It was a summer that Nylah Taylor, a 15-year-old dance prodigy from Southfield, was talking about when she received a coveted scholarship to attend the Ailey Experience NYC workshop. This prestigious program, hosted by the Ailey Extension in New York City in early August, is a dream come true for the talented teenager, who has been dancing since she was three years old.

Taylor, a sophomore at Cass Technical High School, participated in the week-long dance intensive along with 19 other scholarship students from around the world. From August 5-9, Taylor, the daughter of Regina and Norman Taylor, trained in a variety of dance styles, including ballet, jazz, hip-hop and contemporary, all under the tutelage of some of the most respected dance professionals in the industry. The program culminated in a performance at the Ailey Citigroup Theater, where Taylor and her fellow students performed the choreography they learned during the week.

The five-day experience was hard work, but worth it, Taylor said.

“We had classes all day from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and learned everything from ballet to West African dance. … I learned so much, not only about technique, but also how to connect my body movements and convey emotion through dance,” she said. “I developed a different approach to dance, living through it and showing how much you love it through emotion in dance.”

The scholarship, which covers the entire workshop registration fee, was awarded to Taylor after she impressed faculty during the Ailey Experience Detroit, a two-day program at Wayne State University. The Ailey Experience tour coincided with the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater’s U.S. tour, which visits approximately 20 cities each spring, including Atlanta, Chicago, Washington DC, and more.

Jennifer Hawkins, artistic director of Zone Dance Center in Southfield, where Taylor trains, said she was not surprised by her student’s performance.

“Nylah is a versatile dancer who is skilled in all dance styles. When she is on stage, she is full of energy. She is always the first in class and the last to leave and is constantly striving to improve,” Hawkins said. “Nylah comes from a very supportive family. They support her and they support the school. I think that’s where she draws her strength from.”

Levi Marsman, one of the instructors at the Detroit workshop and a former member of the Ailey II Company, mentioned Taylor’s commitment.

“One of the things that immediately struck me about Nylah was her eagerness to show off and give 100 percent – and she did it all with fun. She always listened and made the most of her time in class,” he said.

Taylor’s passion for dance is palpable and she said she is determined to continue pursuing it as a career.

“This experience has opened my eyes,” she said. “I will come back to dancing with a different attitude, to really experience him and show through emotion how much I love him.”

She said she aspires to dance in college and perhaps one day join the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater.

Her last performance in New York featured both hip-hop and contemporary styles, showcasing the breadth of her training.

Taylor said that her experience in New York did more than just hone her dancing skills; she loved the dance itself and the connections she made with other dancers from around the world.

“When you dance with people from areas you don’t know, you learn so much and make such great connections. Everyone should have the chance to experience that, not just dancers, but everyone,” she said.