Thaliyah Cools-Lartigue is a professional dancer and choreographer from Fairborn, Ohio. She holds a BFA from The Ohio State University in Dance. During her studies, she trained with Deeply Rooted Dance Theatre and Kyle Abraham’s A.I.M. Thaliyah also holds extensive training in Contemporary/Modern, Ballet, Hiphop and African styles. Thaliyah has performed and taught internationally and nationally and enjoys exploring ways that dance can foster community. She joined the Dayton Contemporary Dance Company as a Jeraldyn Blunden Fellow in 2022 and has performed works by Cleo Parker Robinson, Paul Taylor, Rennie Harris, and Talley Beatty. Thaliyah was the 2022 Emerging Choreographer for Onyx Contemporary Dance Company and has choreographed works for the Fort Hayes Metropolitan High School’s Dance Ensemble. She currently teaches Hiphop, Lyrical, Contemporary and Jazz at Miami Valley Dance Center.
Get to know Thaliyah!
Seasons with DDI:
This will be my second season with DDI
Company Affiliation:
I have been a JB fellow with the Dayton Contemporary Dance Company for the past two seasons
What inspires you in this world? Why do you dance?
I am inspired mostly by people and the community I am surrounded with. I admire the way dance brings people together and allows individuals to express themselves. I dance to tell stories and use movement as a form of communication to viewers.
What is your favorite thing about DDI?
I enjoy the collaboration of different artists that brings DDI together. The camaraderie of the Dayton dance community comes together through this organization and I truly admire that fact.
My favorite Dayton small business:
Salon Lola