Payton Nickerson is a passionate performer, instructor, and choreographer from the small town of Wheeling, West Virginia. She began dancing at the age of two at Turn It Out Dance Academy in Bellaire, Ohio, under the direction of Mandy Doyle and Lacey Booth.

Beyond her home studio, Payton’s dance education extends to numerous regional and national conventions and programs, including The Choreography Collective at Point Park University, The Launch Program in Los Angeles, The Industry Dance Awards, World of Dance Finals, and more. Payton is also graduate of Wheeling Park High School.

A longtime competitor of Ohio Dance Masters, Payton has attended for over 12 years and earned an outstanding series of titles: Petite Miss Dance of Ohio 2015, Junior Miss Dance of Ohio 2017, Teen Miss Dance of Ohio 2020, and Miss Dance of Ohio 2023. These accomplishments led her to compete at Dance Masters of America, where she was awarded 1st Runner-Up Petite Miss Dance of America 2016, Junior Miss Dance of America 2018, Teen Miss Dance of America 2021, and, Miss Dance of America 2024.

In addition to her DMA achievements, Payton was crowned OVAC Queen of Queens 2023 and has earned countless top 1st overall placements both regionally and nationally throughout her competitive career. 

Most recently, Payton completed a professional contract with Royal Caribbean International aboard the Icon of the Seas, where she performed in Aqua Action for 12 months. This opportunity allowed her to travel throughout the Eastern and Western Caribbean, sharing her love for performance with new audiences each week. She recently completed a contract on Wonder of the Seas as a replacement performer in the Aqua show inTENse and thoroughly enjoyed her time understudying not only all the dance tracks, but the other discipline tracks as well. Payton is grateful for every opportunity she is given to perform for an audience. 

Payton has toured nationwide with Showbiz National Talent, working behind the scenes as a backstage manager and merchandise representative. With experience in social media marketing, she’s passionate about supporting every part of the production and stepping in wherever she can make a difference.

With over seven years of teaching experience, Payton has traveled nationwide as a guest instructor, choreographer, and adjudicator, working with dancers across all ages and levels. Her choreography has received top honors and multiple choreography awards. Payton has had the joy of working with children with special needs, helping them explore movement, breathwork, and the art of dance in a supportive and creative environment. 

Above all, Payton is deeply passionate about teaching—she finds true fulfillment in inspiring the next generation of dancers, helping them grow in both artistry and confidence through her love for the art form.