Meet Tylor Bradshaw of San Diego, CA

Today we’d like to introduce you to Tylor Bradshaw.

Hi Tylor, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
After retiring from my professional ballet career with Golden State in 2022, I transitioned into choreograhy, following a long-held desire to create. Some of my first opportunities came through Ballet Collective San Diego under the direction of Emily Miller, whose supportive environment encouraged me to take risks and experiment. From exploring themes of mental health through ballet to choreographing ballet dance to hip-hop music, each project strengthened my confidence and voice as an artist. This journey has empowered me to establish my own platform for creating new and innovative work within the industry.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Being a choreographer has been both rewarding and challenging. While I’ve been fortunate to receive meaningful opportunities, I’ve also faced many rejections as I’ve sought to expand into new ballet companies. Each rejection, though difficult, has pushed me to work harder and refine my voice as an artist. I’ve learned that rejection is often part of the journey toward acceptance, and that art is subjective—not everyone will connect with it, and that’s okay. I’m grateful to have found a home and a platform where I can create, grow, and continue contributing new work to the art form as I work to pursue additionally work.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am a contemporary ballet choreographer, and what I’m most proud of will always be the dancers’ final bow. No matter how the performance unfolds, that moment belongs to them—it’s a reminder that choreography is built on trust. As a choreographer, I can guide and shape the work, but once the dancers step on stage, I have to trust them just as much as they trusted me in the creative process. That exchange often leads to new opportunities and even happy accidents that make the art come alive.

What sets me apart is my perspective. While I create ballets, I draw heavily from my background in hip-hop and Latin ballroom, blending those influences into contemporary ballet. That mix gives my choreography a unique texture and voice, rooted in my diverse experiences as a dance artist.

Networking and finding a mentor can have such a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
My advice to other artists is simple: put yourself out there. Submit your work, even when it feels intimidating, and figure out your own “magic number”—the amount of rejections it takes before you land an acceptance. Each “no” gets you closer to the right “yes.” Along the way, you’ll naturally cross paths with other artists who are navigating the same journey. Those connections often grow into mentorships, collaborations, and lasting relationships that can sustain you as much as any opportunity.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tylor.the.creater/
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@tkb.choreography?si=FSVF6LCPQVH7ZMCP

Image Credits
Sam Zauscher
Jim Carmody
Doug McMinimy