overview

• Marlayna Locklear is a dynamic dance artist and educator originally from Milwaukee, WI. She began her training at City Ballet Theatre and earned her BFA in Ballet and Jazz from the University of the Arts in Philadelphia. As one of the founding members of The Milwaukee Dance Connection, Marlayna has performed with renowned companies including Dayton Contemporary Dance Company, Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Ensemble, Deeply Rooted Dance Theater, Dallas Black Dance Theatre II, Owen Cox Dance Group, and the San Francisco Opera.
  Known for her versatility and depth, she has performed works by world-class choreographers such as Donald McKayle, Christopher Huggins, Dwight Rhoden, and Ronald K. Brown, and has taught at prestigious institutions including Alonzo King's LINES Ballet.
  Currently, Marlayna teaches asynchronously at Montclair State University and is on faculty at East Carolina University. She is close to completing her MFA in Choreography and Performance. In addition to teaching, she freelances as a choreographer, adjudicator, and guest artist-regularly judging competitions and teaching at festivals such as the International Association for Blacks in Dance (IABD) and the American College Dance Association (ACDA). She continues to perform professionally with Owen Cox Dance Group.