A native of Buffalo, New York, Naila Ansari Woods is a Cum Laude graduate of Point Park University’s Conservatory of Performing Arts program. She is an original and former principal dancer for the August Wilson Center Dance Ensemble, a “Top 25 Dance Companies to Watch” in Dance Magazine for the 2012-2013 season. Naila also danced and performed works for the legendary Lula Washington Dance Theatre out of Los Angeles, CA.

As teaching and traveling have been big aspects of her career, Naila’s experiences have led her to develop dance programs for charter schools and children with special needs. She has performed at Jacobs Pillow, Summerstage in Central Park, and has performed around the world. Naila has had the privilege to perform works by world renowned artists such as  Robert Battle, Sidra Bell, Camille Brown, Darrell Grand Moultrie, Kyle Abraham, Christopher Huggins, Francesca Harper, Ann Reinking, David Parsons, Daniel Ezralow, Jason McDole, and Kiesha Lalama. Naila was a dancer on the first premiere musical of acclaimed dancer, choreographer to the stars, and Hollywood actor Darrin Henson in “Dreams Do Travel.” 

Naila is pursuing her Master of Fine Arts degree with a focus on the evolution of Black Dance in America through oppression and celebration. She looks to merge African American studies with multi-media to create a live dance documentary on the History of Black Dance Movement.