(You may also choose from Izzy, Zay, Zeek, or Zaya.)

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I’m a storyteller.

In a past life, I’m pretty sure I came from the griot tradition. But since I’m living in the United States in 2026, I guess I’ll just stick with storyteller. Storyteller is the word I use because it seems to be the closet word that encompass everything I love to do. I act. I direct. I choreograph. I write. I teach. I coach. I make things. And at the center of all of it is my love for a good story and the people who get to tell them.

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My path has taken me from training in Afro-Brazilian dance to performing on Broadway, from classrooms to rehearsal rooms, and from being in someone else’s story to creating stories of my own. I’ve been lucky enough to work with some incredible people along the way, and every experience has taught me something new about the responsibility that comes with being an artist. 

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I truly believe stories are one of the best ways we have to understand each other. They have the power to make us laugh, make us cry, help us see the world through someone else’s eyes, or simply remind us that we aren’t alone.

And, if I’m being honest, I’m not only a storyteller for the audience. I’m a storyteller for myself, too. Selfishly, storytelling makes me a better person.

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Whether I’m working with a professional actor, a young person finding their voice, a group of collaborators, or just sitting around talking with a friend, I’m interested in helping people feel comfortable enough to be curious, release the silly, and show up as themselves.

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That’s really what I hope my work can do.

I want to help guide people toward their most authentic selves because I believe that’s where our greatest joy lives. I’m still figuring that out for myself, too. But as I continue becoming more of who I am, I hope the work I make can encourage other people to do the same.

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Thanks for stopping by. Seriously. 

Peace and love,

-Zay