Ayano Elson

Ayano Elson is an Okinawan–American dancer and choreographer. She makes and performs in experimental dances that examine power, beauty, and surveillance in contemporary Western dance.

Her choreography has been presented by the Kitchen, the Chocolate Factory, Danspace Project, PAGEANT, MoMA, ISSUE Project Room, and Roulette, among others. Ayano has received support by Brooklyn Arts Council, New York State Council on the Arts, the Foundation of Contemporary Arts, and the Mertz Gilmore Foundation. She currently dances for Melinda Ring, Kim Brandt, and Jesi Cook, and has danced for Juli Brandano, Ella Dawn W-S, Gwendolyn Knapp, Alexa West, Milka Djordjevich, Matthew Lutz-Kinoy, Niall Jones, and the late Simone Forti.