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Contemporary-ballet virtuoso Kayla Mak is a jack-of-all-trades and a master of fun. With her bubbly personality and go-with-the-flow mentality, you almost wouldn't believe the 18-year-old has already racked up a dance resumé that rivals those of most professionals. When Mak takes the stage, however, her crisp lines, confidence and control make it clear: This girl has put in some serious work.
Photo by Nathan Sayers
Growing up in Rye Brook, NY, Kayla had a potential that her teachers at Westchester Academy immediately recognized. "From 4 years old, she stood out as so incredibly focused that I knew we had to give this child every opportunity we could," says Grace Buckley, one of Mak's teachers and dance mentors. Accolades soon confirmed Mak's star potential, including the title of National Mini Outstanding Dancer at New York City Dance Alliance in 2012 (which she later brought full-circle, winning National Senior Outstanding Dancer this past summer), and being cast as Clara in the Christmas Spectacular Starring the Radio City Rockettes from 2011 to 2013. But the role that really put Mak on the map was her appearance on Season 3 of NBC's "World of Dance," where she made it all the way to divisional finals and toured with the series after it aired. "Never in a million years did I imagine dancing on national television," Mak shares. "But because of that experience, younger kids will come up to me at competitions and tell me I'm a role model for them. And that's one of my biggest goals: inspiring the next generation, especially as a minority, because I didn't see many dancers onstage that looked like me growing up." (Mak is of Chinese, Japanese and Cuban descent.)
When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, Mak did what she's always done: worked hard, pursued every opportunity and rolled with the punches. She enlisted her dad to build a makeshift dance floor in her basement, and took online classes from Ballet Academy East (where she was training pre-pandemic), enrolled in virtual summer intensives with Arts Umbrella, San Francisco Ballet and Professional Dance Institute, and, later that year, filmed dozens of college auditions. "Dancing on camera is so different from going to a live college audition. I spent a lot of time stressing out about my applications."
Photo by Nathan Sayers
Her work clearly paid off. Now, as a dance student in her freshman year at Juilliard, the question of Mak's future success in dance is not if, but where. "With Kayla's level of talent and professionalism, her biggest challenge will be to stay true to herself, and decide which opportunities to pursue that will make her the happiest," Buckley says. Right now, Mak's keeping her options open. "I know I want to be in a company with some kind of combination of ballet and contemporary, like Complexions," she says. "But I'm always discovering new dancers and companies in other countries on Instagram, and that adds to the possibilities."
No matter what Mak's future holds, as long as dance remains at the center, she says, she'll continue to be one very happy human. "It might be cheesy, but to me, dance is life," she says, laughing. "Nothing can replace how free and grateful I feel when I'm dancing."
"Kayla has an incredible combination of natural talent and discipline, and she takes direction exceptionally well. She's such a powerful performer, but offstage she's also one of the humblest and most gracious kids I've worked with. I have no doubt she'll be able to accomplish anything she puts her mind to on her dance journey." — Grace Buckley
Fast Facts on Kayla
Birthday: February 11, 2003
Dance inspiration: Misty Copeland
Favorite food: Spaghetti Bolognese or french fries
Non-dance hobbies: Skateboarding, baking, football
Advice for other dancers: "Take every opportunity you can."
Dance strength: "I would say my fluidity. I love to noodle!"
Correction she gets most often: "My hyperextended arms! Growing up, I really had to work on placing my arms correctly in second position."
Kayla is one of three cover model search finalists—learn more about the other finalists and cast your vote here!