ISABELLA PAYNE

HIP HOP

Isabella Payne is a Grand Rapids, MI native who has been training in a variety of styles since the age of 3. Isabella is a recent graduate of the University of Michigan having received her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance (SMTD) and her Bachelor of Arts in Communications & Media (LSA). 

During her time in SMTD, Isabella trained under the direction of Judy Rice and Shannon Gillen (VIM VIGOR) and performed numerous works by choreographers such as Sidra Bell, Crystal Frazier, and Nicole Reehorst. She was also a member of Dance 2XS Michigan, a local hip hop group, and served as Artistic Director in her last year. With Dance 2XS Michigan, she had her choreography featured at a Detroit Pistons NBA game, a TEDx talk and in numerous dance showcases around the Detroit and Chicago areas. Upon graduation, Isabella was named the 2023 Earl V. Moore Award recipient in Dance, which is a university designated award “given to a graduating senior within the Dance department who has exemplified the highest level of artistic achievement.” Isabella regularly supplemented her training at Michigan with masterclasses across the state of Michigan during her summers and attended the Millennium Dance Complex Industry Intensive in the summer of 2022. 

Isabella has since moved to Los Angeles to pursue a professional dance and choreography career. Prior to her move to Los Angeles, she regularly taught technique and master classes across the state of Michigan for various levels including recreational dancers, competition studios, beginning and advanced college students and pre-professional crews. Most recently, Isabella was part of the choreography crew for the University of Michigan Dance Team’s 2024 nationals hip hop routine and also guest taught at the Michigan Dance Team Fall 2023 Recruitment Clinic. 

Isabella’s love and passion for dance only continues to grow and she is eager to share it with clients as a TRIBE 99 Choreo-Connect Apprentice this season!