Ayodele Casel

Ayodele Casel is a native New Yorker and has worked professionally as an actor and tap dancer for nearly two decades. She began her professional training at New York University's Tisch School of the Arts and is also a graduate of The William Esper Studio in NYC. Hailed by Gregory Hines as "one of the top young tap dancers in the world today", Casel has made quite a mark on the tap dance world. Her work as a choreographer has earned her commissions from Aaron Davis Hall/Harlem Stage and the Apollo's Salon Series, where she presented "Diary of a Tap Dancer". She was also selected by acclaimed composer Rob Kapilow to collaborate on a Tap dance concerto which premiered at Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts. Ayodele co- choreographed "Tap Into Peace"; a show with the incredible music of Stevie Wonder as its inspiration and soundtrack. The show has been presented at NY City Center's Fall for Dance and PlayhouseSquare in Cleveland. Ms. Casel's television and film credits include "Third Watch", "Law and Order", "Savion Glover's Nu York", "The Jamie Foxx Show" and "Bojangles" and in 2006 she originated the role of "The Doll" in "Imagine Tap!". She has performed at The White House, Carnegie Hall, Radio City Music Hall, Madison Square Garden and Off- Broadway in Savion Glover's Downtown: Live Communication. Ms. Casel also co-choreographed and was featured on PBS' "Rodgers and Hart Story: Thou Swell, Thou Witty". She has been creating and presenting her own works since 1999 in venues that include The Apollo, New York's City Center, Aaron Davis Hall/The Gatehouse, The Lisner Auditorium, Lincoln Center "Out of Doors", Symphony Space, Joyce SoHo, Dance Theater Workshop, The Triad Theater and Joe's Pub at The Public Theater. Ms. Casel has appeared on the cover of Dance Spirit, American Theater Magazine, The Village Voice and has been featured in many other magazine articles. She has worked and performed with the greatest tap dancers and companies including the late great Gregory Hines, Jazz Tap Ensemble, American Tap Dance Orchestra and Savion Glover as the only female in his company N.Y.O.T.s. (Not Your Ordinary Tappers). Her work has been presented nationally and internationally and she continues striving to make Tap Dancing a relevant presence in the arts. Ayodele, also a Capezio Athlete, was most recently seen performing in Savion Glover's STePz at The Joyce Theater and tours the country regularly on faculty with LA Dance Magic.