An introduction to Sonya Tayeh

Sonya Tayeh is a creative visionary whose work relating to the body in motion explores many different worlds.

She is the dance backbone behind numerous stage and screen projects – most notably Moulin Rouge! The Musical, for which she won the Tony Award for outstanding choreography.

Produced on stages globally, Tayeh has earned many accolades for her distinguished work across genres including two Emmy nominations, an Obie Award, two Lucille Lortel Awards, two Drama Desk Awards and a Critics Circle Award.

She is known for her powerful versatility and theatrical range, her chameleon-like choreography and her ability to construct onstage worlds, adapting her storytelling to any scale.

DETROIT: AN EARLY EDUCATION IN DANCE AND MUSIC 

Sonya Tayeh grew up in Detroit, U.S., a city with a glittering history of music. The home of Motown Records – the iconic Black-owned label that propelled The Jackson 5, Diana Ross, Stevie Wonder and countless others to fame – and the birthplace of techno music, Detroit helped define the sound of the twentieth century (and beyond). Genres collided and music moved between the concert halls and the streets.

Sonya received her Bachelor of Fine Arts in dance at Wayne State University but she found her rhythm in the music of the city. Her formative experiences were in rave culture, dancing to pulsating techno and house music surrounded by other Detroit artists and building their formative years together. She recalls hearing the music of her icons Björk and Sinéad O’Connor in tightly-packed, intimate spaces – captivating experiences that planted her Detroit roots tighter still in her work. 

CALIFORNIA DREAMS

After graduating, Sonya moved west to San Francisco and then L.A. – a city brimming with opportunity. Dance was thriving and Sonya was determined to make a name for herself. She rented a theatre, flew her favourite dance artists out for weeks of rehearsals (many slept on her floor), flyered cars herself and invited top-rated talent agencies to watch. After the production, she was signed the next day.

And so her career began to take off – on her own terms, breaking boundaries and commanding the mantra that an artist should be able to weave through different genres without being pigeonholed. 

NEW YORK AND BROADWAY 

Sonya Tayeh’s world changed again when she fell in love with musicals. She was drawn to the extensive development process – the chance to immerse herself in a collaborative project over several years. Six years after her time in L.A., Sonya moved to New York where she began directing and choreographing musicals.

In 2021, Sonya made her Broadway debut with Moulin Rouge! The Musical, directed by Alex Timbers. Her artistry – including the highly memorable Act Two opening – helped transfer the glitz and glamour of Baz Lurhmann’s beloved film to the stage. She won a Tony Award for her genre-blending choreography.

Currently, Sonya is directing a new musical adaptation of the psychological thriller Black Swan, which has earned a critic’s pick and the stamp ‘the show of the summer’.

THE SURGE: AN ODE TO SINÉAD O’CONNOR

Performed by a company of ten dance artists with over 500 years of collective wisdom, The Surge: An Ode to Sinéad O'Connor is no less impactful. 

The show is inspired by Sonya’s connection to Sinéad O’Connor, which began as a teenager. She was drawn to Sinéad’s innate curiosity about faith, family, grief and more – all of which is explored in her remarkable music. 

At each step of the way, Sonya was led by this music – from listening to her records in the dark to sharing albums each week in rehearsals. The result is a gorgeous ode to Sinéad O’Connor rooted in her singular voice. 

The Surge: An Ode to Sinéad O'Connor premieres at Aviva Studios from 25 to 27 June. Find out more and book tickets here.