Meet Lyla Ruth

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Lyla Ruth. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Lyla below.

Hi Lyla, really happy you were able to join us today and we’re looking forward to sharing your story and insights with our readers. Let’s start with the heart of it all – purpose. How did you find your purpose?

I can’t fully explain it—it’s just always been there. My purpose is the reason I’m on this earth: to help people live happier, more joyful lives through high-quality productions and entertainment.

I thrive on inspiring young students to pursue careers in the arts. I light up when I help adults discover dance for the first time. I love giving fellow artists meaningful opportunities to shine. And there’s nothing quite like the thrill of building a show from the ground up and watching it come to life.

Entertainment isn’t just what I do for work—it’s what I do for love, for fun, and for everything in between. It’s who I am.

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?

Right now, I teach, choreograph, and dance—and I truly love it. I had to step away from my work for a little while, but I never stopped dancing or training. And when I finally stepped back into the classroom, it hit me like a wave: This is where I belong. I don’t want to do anything else.

Over the years, I’ve reached a place in my career as an educator and choreographer where I always know what to do. You know that feeling when you’re first starting out—nervous, uncertain, second-guessing yourself? I’m the polar opposite of that now. After more than a decade of being an absolute sponge for dance education across multiple styles, I’ve become a well of knowledge. There isn’t a student I can’t help. It’s amazing to walk into every classroom setting with total confidence.

As a choreographer, I used to spend hours obsessing over every detail. It consumed me. I was constantly stressed about the outcome. But now? I can walk into a room with no plan, look at the dancers in front of me, and create something magical in real-time.

In fact—here’s a funny story. I recently won a choreography award for a musical I worked on. The reviewer especially praised one number. Ironically, it was the one I hadn’t planned at all! I thought we were working on a different piece that day, so I hadn’t even listened to the music. I had just one hour. But we dove in, improvised, and let the creativity flow. And wouldn’t you know—it became the standout number of the show.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

Three Lessons That Shaped My Journey

Stay True to Your Vision.
Don’t listen to people—at least, not too much! Sure, take suggestions, but never compromise your artistic interpretation. I’ve had people tell me my shows were too big, too expensive, or that audiences wouldn’t connect with them. Had I listened, I would have never produced some of my best work. Trust your instincts.

Surround Yourself with the Right People.
With all the naysayers, having a solid support system was everything. The people who truly believed in me refused to let me settle for doubt or negativity. Instead, they challenged me, lifted me, and pushed me to reach new heights. Find those people. Keep them close.

Never Stop Learning.
Growth is a lifelong process. Keep training. Keep expanding your knowledge. Whether it’s mastering new dance styles, studying dance history, or deepening my understanding of show production, continuous learning has been essential to my evolution.

And above all, I always remind my students of this quote from Baryshnikov:
“I do not try to dance better than anyone else. I only try to dance better than myself.”

Don’t waste time comparing yourself to others. Instead, lean into your unique strengths, put in the work, and strive to be just a little better every day.

Alright, so before we go we want to ask you to take a moment to reflect and share what you think you would do if you somehow knew you only had a decade of life left?

This is such an interesting question because I know I probably have about a decade left to dance at the level I want. Yes, I’ll always be dancing and teaching, but I recently realized—this is my last shot to push myself to my fullest potential.

I’ve dedicated so much time to being a dance educator, but for years, I didn’t truly invest in my own training. A few years ago, it hit me: If I stopped growing as a dancer, that would be the end of it. So, I went all in.

So how am I spending this decade? By giving it everything I’ve got. Practicing, training hard, and seizing every single opportunity. I’m not wasting one more second.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://dancewithlyla.com
• Instagram: @lylaruthofficial
• Facebook: Lyla Ruth
• Youtube: @lylaruthofficial

Image Credits

Dan Sweet, Denise Duff, Waren Woo