Torya Beard is a New York-based director, creative consultant/strategist, choreographer, educator, and producer specializing in dance and theater. Her curvy professional path reflects a deep curiosity about and belief in the boundless possibilities at the intersection of creativity, artistic expression, and social justice.She studied dance at The University of Michigan and performed with Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Ensemble, David Rousseve/Reality, The Kevin Wynn Collection, Ronald K. Brown/Evidence, Earl Mosley’s Diversity of Dance, Deeply Rooted Chicago Dance Theatre, among others. She toured with the National Tour of Donald Byrd’s The Harlem Nutcracker, made her Broadway debut in "Disney’s The Lion King" (swing, dance captain, understudy Sarabi) and was a featured dancer in the film “Idlewild.”Select teaching: A Broader Way Foundation, Salina Arts and Humanities Council, Tokyo School of Music,College of Mount St. Vincent, Mind-Builders Creative Arts Center, Hinton Battle Youth Academy, and Broadway Classrooms. She developed and piloted summer & after school arts programs and expanded faculty professional development for Excellence Community Schools in the Bronx, NY.Torya’s passion for dance and theatre lead to 15-years in PR & Marketing as Owner/Creative Director ofthatgirl006, Inc. Past clients include; Ayodele Casel, Roger C. Jeffrey, Rod Gailes OBC, Evidence, A Dance Company, Savion Glover, Charlotte Brathwaite, Deeply Rooted Dance Theater, Harlem Stage, The Classical Theatre of Harlem, and Tiffany Rea-Fisher.Recent projects: "Ayodele Casel + Arturo O'Farrill" at The Joyce Theater (Creative Director/Assistant Choreographer), Young Arts (Regional Multidisciplinary Co-Director, NYC 2019, Miami 2020), Ayodele Casel's "Diary of A Tap Dancer V.4” (Director), Classical Theatre of Harlem's "The First Noel" (Associate Choreographer), "While I Have The Floor," & (All-Female) "Jesus Christ Super Star - In Concert," (Producer), Idina Menzel 2017 World Tour (Creative Director), Ayodele Casel's "While I Have The Floor" (Producer), City Center Encores! Off-Center's "Really Rosie" (Assistant Choreographer), and Ayodele Casel's "Rooted" for the inaugural five-borough tour of New York City Center's On The Move (Creative Director), Harvard University Art Lab (Arts Administration Consultant, Fall 2019), Diary of a Tap Dancer V.6: Us, commissioned by New York City Center, (Co-curator/Co-director).Torya is Executive Director of A Broader Way Foundation, Director of Original Tap House, Co-Founder of tall po Ppy, Inc., Managing and Creative Director of Ayodele Casel's Ayo Lives, Inc., Artistic Director at Excellence Community Schools, and serves on the board of Earl Mosley's Diversity of Dance.