Raised in Fort Wayne, Payton started dancing at the age of four. She grew up through Fort Wayne Ballet’s Auer Academy training under the direction of Karen Gibbons-Brown, Eleonora Pokhitonova-Hartung, and Tracy Tritz. She has attended Kaatsbaan Extreme Ballet summer program. Payton has loved getting to perform in ballets such as The Nutcracker, Swan Lake, and Cinderella. She’s excited to begin her first season with the company.