Laila Abdullah (dancer, teaching artist) is a mother, teacher, and choreographer with extensive training in the African Diaspora dance styles, Modern, Jazz, Tap, Hip-Hop and Ballet. The Los Angeles Times has written: “... riveting Laila Abdullah, her effervescent solos were compelling...” Laila began dancing at the age of five with the Katherine Dunham Youth Company under the direction of Ruby Streate and Theodore Jamison. She earned her B.A. in Dance and M.A. in Education from Loyola Marymount University and teaches dance and physical education at Foshay Learning Center.  She has studied and performed with Diane DeFranco-Browne, Winifred R. Harris, Michael Mizerany, Rosangela Silvestre, and Luiz Badaró. Laila was nominated for a Lester Horton Dance Award for Best Female Performance in 2005. She traveled to Salvador, Bahia in 2007 for intensive study of Afro-Brazilian dance and music. Laila has been a core member of Viver Brasil since 2004.