Bio

Nayon is a dancer and choreographer with Ballet Arizona. He created his first work in 2013 for Ballet Arizona's Artist Relief Fund performance. Shortly after, he was invited by the company director to choreograph a new work for Ballet Arizona's production "Innovations."Nayon's works created for Ballet Arizona include Inner Layer, Rigged Games, Threads, Inherent, Resonance, and 9 o'clock. His works created for the Artist Relief Fund include Ow, Office Groove, Rituals, and Tremodi. In 2017, alongside the then school director Carlos Valcarcel, Nayon co-choreographed the School of Ballet Arizona's full length production of Cinderella. He was also commissioned to create two works on Southwest Youth Ballet Company. In 2017, Nayon was recognized by AZ Central as an "Up and Coming Artist Under 40" and in 2018 he was named "Best Choreographer" by the Phoenix New Times. Most recently, Nayon was one of three choreographers selected to participate in the 2019 spring session of the New York Choreographic Institute.

Prior to joining Ballet Arizona in 2012, Nayon danced with Terra Brasil, Houston Ballet 2, and Washington Ballet. He has performed works by Twyla Tharp, Annabelle Lopez Ochoa, Christopher Bruce, Stanton Welch, Edwaard Liang, Ib Andersen, Alejandro Cerrudo, Alexei Ratmansky, as well as an extensive repertoire of George Balanchine. In addition, Nayon received critical acclaim by the New York Times for his performance in the North American premiere of Napoli in 2015.

REVIEWS AND RECOGNITIONS

2019 - Participant of New York Choreographic Institute

2018 - Best Choreographer by Phoenix New Times

2017 - Up and coming under 40 by AZCentral

2016 - Recognized in Ib Andersen’s Round at Botanical Garden’s by New York Times

2015 - Outstanding Performance of Napoli by New York Times

AWARDS

World Ballet Competition, 2011 – 1st place

Youth America Grand Prix Finals, 2009—3rd place

Youth America Grand Prix Semi-Finals 2009—2nd place

Youth America Grand Prix Semi-Finals 2008—2nd place (contemporary) and 3rd place (classical)

FestDanca 2005—1st place (Brazil)