Associate Director Laila Abdullah is a mother, dancer, teacher, and choreographer with extensive training in Dunham Technique, West African, Afro-Brazilian, Modern, Jazz, Tap, Hip-Hop and Ballet. The Los Angeles Times wrote, “... 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 received her B.A. in Dance and M.A. in Education from Loyola Marymount University. She studied and performed with Diane DeFranco-Browne; Winifred R. Harris’ Between Lines Modern Company and Michael MizeranyDance Co. She has served on the faculties of Santa Monica College and West Los Angeles College.

n 2005, she was nominated for a Lester Horton Dance Award for Best Female Performance for Yabas/Queens. In 2007, she traveled to Salvador, Bahia for intensive study of Afro-Brazilian dance and music. Laila has been with Viver Brasil since 2004. Such showcases of her works can be reflected in her performances at the Music Center's Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, Hollywood Bowl and Disneyland Entertainments.
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​She is currently teaching middle school dance at Fosahy Learning Center and Afro-Fusion and Samba at Mexico Moderno Dance Academy and Dancer's 4 Life Studio.