I'm an Artist with Kayla Acker-Carter

Meet Kayla Acker-Carter

Kayla Acker-Carter has been dancing for as long as she can remember. From her first ballet class at age five to performing with the School of Washington Ballet as an adult, dance has been a constant thread in her life. Her journey includes magnet and PVA dance programs at Bates Middle School, four years with her high school dance company, and a minor in dance during college. Along the way, she performed with studios in Maryland and Colorado, where she also established herself in a local company. Most recently, she took the stage with The Washington Ballet’s adult program in June 2025.

This fall marks Kayla’s first year teaching at Chesapeake Arts Center. She leads three classes—Ballet Buddies, Novice Musical Theater, and Ballet Jazz Fusion—and assists Lauren with Musical Theater Intermediate. While this is her first formal teaching position, Kayla has years of experience choreographing for high school drama productions and working in informal settings, often guiding peers and younger dancers during rehearsals.

For Kayla, teaching at CAC is a full-circle moment. Growing up, she performed in her spring recitals on the same stage, discovering her passion for dance within these walls. Now, she’s excited to share that love with her students, many of whom are just beginning their own journeys in dance.

Outside the studio, Kayla is an environmental engineer. She credits dance with shaping her confidence, presence, and collaborative spirit—skills she brings into every professional setting. “Ballet teaches you how to carry yourself in life, not just on stage,” she says. “It gives you confidence, awareness, and empathy—qualities that stay with you long after class ends.”

Kayla hopes to expand CAC’s offerings for adults in the future. She believes many adults want to return to dance not just for exercise but also for the joy of performance. Her vision is to create welcoming spaces where people of all ages can explore movement, find balance, and reconnect with the art form.

With her first year of teaching underway, Kayla is eager to grow alongside her students and continue building community through dance.

I’m an Artist at CAC.