Ayana Workman

Biography

Ayana Workman's first gig was an impromptu performance with tap genius Savion Glover. She was three years old.

Savion asked the audience if anyone wanted to come up on stage and dance with him. Ayana's hand shot straight up like a rocket. Always prepared, she had her tap shoes with her.

Of course, it didn't hurt that her parents were legendary jazz bassist Reggie Workman -- a veteran of the John Coltrane Quartet -- and Maya Milenovic Workman, an internationally renowned dancer and choreographer. Unlike her classmates, Ayana's daycare was in dance studios and recording studios, where she grew her chops as a dancer and musician, learning how to play the guitar, the piano and the African djem...