Aylen Bell: Dancing with Power, Laughing Through Life
A senior dancer’s journey of perseverance, connection, and finding strength in movement.
By Sean Openshaw
It’s Just So Me
Aylen Bell has never been the most graceful dancer. And she’s okay with that.
“I am not the most graceful or technical dancer, but I dance with power,” she says. “My jumps are my strength because of my physical power, but I also have a strong technical foundation that allows me to execute complex choreography.”
Her unique style isn’t just about how she moves—it’s about who she is.
“When I create my own choreography, the most common feedback I get is that it is so me—that it represents me as a person and as a dancer,” she says. “I love that I can express myself through dance, and I think that is a rare and special quality.”
Her coach, Cori Wall, agrees.
“Aylen’s dance style is really powerful,” Wall says. “The solo she performed this fall was a great example of that. It was powerful both in the movements she chose and in the way she executed them. Her technique was strong, but it was more than that—she has this intensity inside of her that she channels through her dancing. I think that’s what we saw in her solo this time. It was really fun to watch.”
That solo was a defining moment for Aylen this season—not just because of how she danced, but because of everything that led up to it.
“I choreographed my solo to showcase my strengths, but I also included challenging moves to push myself and prove that I could grow,” Aylen says. “I chose music that resonated with me and added staging and lighting to enhance the story I wanted to tell. Performing my solo was an incomparable feeling. I was proud not just of the dance itself, but of the fact that I had chosen the music, developed the concept, designed the costume, choreographed the movements, and staged the entire performance. It was a true capstone moment for me this season.”
She Just Makes Everyone Laugh
Aylen doesn’t just bring power to the stage—she brings energy to the people around her.
“She is hilarious,” Wall says. “If Aylen were my age, we would be really, really good friends. She’s just a really funny kid. I really enjoy being around her.”
And it’s not just her coach who sees it.
“The word I would choose to describe Aylen’s impact on our family is laughter,” says her mom, Debbie Bell. “She has been a joyful person for most of her life. She has a natural way of helping others feel happy and enjoy the moment.”
That humor isn’t just for fun—it serves a purpose.
“At this level of dance, things don’t always come together right away,” Wall explains. “Aylen is really good at keeping people encouraged and helping us all stay lighthearted when we make mistakes. Sometimes, it takes several classes before you perfect a technique—that’s why we keep dancing. But when you’re at a high level, you expect things to happen faster than they sometimes do. Through that process, Aylen’s humor helps keep us in a good place.”
That humor shines through in the classroom, too—especially when she’s learning something new.
“She has come so far this year,” Wall says. “She stopped dancing outside of school, at least in the studio environment she was in before, and I think that has actually motivated her to work harder in class. And when she learns a new skill, she makes these crazy noises—like they just fly out of her body because she’s so elated. It always brings the whole class to giggles. It’s just really fun.”
I Know I Am Capable
Underneath the humor, there’s an athlete who knows her strength.
“I chose ‘powerful’ to describe myself because I know that I am a strong person, both physically and mentally,” Aylen says. “I can accomplish a lot on my own—whether in dance, sports, school, or relationships with others.”
That strength has been tested. Dance isn’t easy, and the best skills take time to master.
“At higher levels of dance, perseverance is essential,” she says. “I have learned and mastered very difficult skills over time, and it never happens immediately.”
She’s okay with the struggle. She knows she won’t be the best dancer in the room, but that’s not what drives her.
“I know I will never be the best dancer, and I have accepted that,” she says. “But knowing that there is always a better version of myself that I can reach—that I can land that one jump or turn one more time—keeps me going, even when I face difficulties.”
Her mom has seen that perseverance firsthand.
“She has a gift for conveying the emotion and meaning behind a piece, making the performance truly captivating,” Debbie says. “I also think she has incredibly beautiful arm movements—they add so much grace to her dancing.”
An Exhilarating Blip in My Memory
For Aylen, stepping onto a stage is like stepping into another world.
“Being on stage performing feels surreal—like a dream,” she says. “I fall into muscle memory and let my body take over. Occasionally, my mind will give me quick reminders—cleaning notes or counts to keep me on time. The stage lights bounce off my lashes, and all I can focus on is the choreography.”
She doesn’t even see the audience.
“Looking out into the audience, I don’t register any faces,” she says. “I stare at the spotlight, then glance offstage. Being on stage doesn’t even feel real—and when I step off, it’s as if I was never there at all. It’s an exhilarating blip in my memory.”
She’s Always True to Herself
Aylen has never had a problem being her own person.
“She is really good at finding solutions when people might be disagreeing,” Wall says. “She tries to serve as an anchor in those situations, which is really nice. You don’t always see that in teenagers—sometimes, they’re good at taking sides but not as strong at finding resolutions. Aylen does both.”
Her ability to connect with others is one of her defining traits.
“I like to think that I have a deep understanding of people and how they will react to different situations,” Aylen says. “I often try to guide people to be more supportive of those around them.”
Even as she prepares to move on to the next chapter—attending the University of Arizona’s Honors College to study pharmacy—her presence is something her teacher and teammates will miss.
“If Aylen were here, I would tell her that she is one of the funniest kids I’ve ever met,” Wall says. “I love that she is always true to herself.”
And in Aylen’s mind, that’s exactly what her story is about.
“I think my story is truly about change—and how I respond to it,” she says. “The pages will keep turning, and if I recognize that and focus on making the best change possible, I will be capable of achieving anything I set my mind to.”
In Their Own Words
- “I know that I am a strong person, both physically and mentally. I can accomplish a lot on my own—whether it’s in dance, sports, school, or relationships.” — Aylen Bell.
- “Aylen is hilarious. If she were my age, we would be really, really good friends.” — Cori Wall, dance teacher.
- “I know I will never be the best dancer, and I have accepted that. But knowing that there is always a better version of myself that I can reach keeps me going.” — Aylen Bell.
- “She makes these crazy noises when she learns a new skill—like they just fly out of her body because she’s so elated. It always brings the whole class to giggles.” — Cori Wall.
- “Aylen has a natural way of helping others feel happy and enjoy the moment.” — Debbie Bell, mother.
- “Being on stage performing feels surreal—like a dream.” — Aylen Bell.
- “Aylen’s story is truly about bringing joy and passion to life—and sharing that with the people she cares about.” — Debbie Bell.
- “I love that she is always true to herself.” — Cori Wall.
A Note from Cori About the Class of 2024 Dance Seniors
For NPA dance instructor Cori Wall, every senior class has its own unique dynamic. But this year’s graduating seniors stood out in ways that set them apart from previous years.
“This group is different from past classes because they haven’t all been together for years like most of our seniors,” Wall said. “At NPA, a lot of students start dancing together in middle school, so by the time they reach their senior year, they’ve known each other for a long time. But this group had an exchange student, which brought something new to the mix.”
That exchange student, Julia Tybuszewska, introduced the other dancers to a different movement style, shaped by her training in Poland. Wall noted that her presence offered the class exposure to new approaches in both technique and choreography.
“It’s always fascinating to see how someone trained in another country interprets movement,” she said. “Julia’s style is really mature, and I think her experience and musicality influenced the other dancers in ways they may not even realize.”
Another unique aspect of this senior class was that they weren’t always in the same dance period. Unlike previous years, Wall split this year’s seniors between two different classes, giving them separate experiences before coming together for performances and choreography projects.
“I think it was actually a good thing for them,” she said. “They got to grow individually, but when they came together for their senior pieces, you could really see how each of them had developed in their own way.”
As they prepare to leave NPA, Wall hopes they continue to push themselves beyond the comfort of home.
“Flagstaff will always be here, and we’ll always love them and welcome them back,” she said. “But I really hope they go out and explore what the world has to offer. This group has so much potential—I can’t wait to see what they do next.”
About this athlete profile series
This profile about Aylen Bell is part of an ongoing series where I strive to capture more than just what athletes look like—I aim to tell their stories. Through in-depth interviews and photography, I highlight their journey, challenges, and what drives them beyond the game. As a Flagstaff portrait photographer and Flagstaff sports photographer, my goal is to preserve the essence of each athlete, both in words and images, creating a record of who they are in this moment.
