NAIA NEAL (Aptos, CA) began her dance training at the age of 7 at Dancenter, a local dance studio in her hometown. A graduate of the Ailey/Fordham BFA Program, where she was awarded the 2023 Denise Jefferson Memorial Scholarship, she now holds an apprenticeship with Ailey II. Ms. Neal has performed works by Christopher L. Huggins, Hope Boykin, Jonathan Lee, PeiJu Chien-Pott, Clifford Williams, Darshan Singh Bhuller, and Ephrat Asherie. She also appeared in Alvin Ailey’s Memoria during Ailey’s 2023 New York City Center season and at BAM (Brooklyn Academy of Music) in 2024. This is Ms. Neal's first season with Pangea Dance Collective.