Born in Albany, New York, Michela Poynter began her ballet training at Myers Ballet School/Northeast Ballet Company, under the direction of Darlene Myers. At Northeast Ballet Company, Michela had the opportunity to perform many lead roles including the Sugar Plum Fairy, Arabian Coffee, Snow Queen in The Nutcracker as well as various roles in original works for the company. Michela started her college career at Hudson Valley Community College, where she received an Associateʼs degree in science, majoring in Fine Arts. Michela then continued her

education at Butler University, Jordan College of the Arts where she received a Bachelor of Arts in Dance Pedagogy in May of 2020.

During Michelaʼs time at Butler, she received extensive training in a range of styles. Michela has had the pleasure to perform in various roles in many full-length ballets. In addition to her classical experience, Michela is equally proficient in Jazz, where she studied the Simonson technique, along with Modern, Cunningham and graham technique. Michela also has studied improvisation and has grown a huge passion for choreography throughout the last couple of years while studying at Butler. Michela has had the opportunity to choreograph on her fellow colleagues at Butler, as well as professional companies such as New York State Ballet and Greensboro Ballet.

In 2020, Michela started her professional career as an apprentice with New York State Ballet, in Rochester NY and then continued on with Greensboro Ballet as a company member in 2021. When Michela is not teaching or dancing you can find her behind a camera lens, as she has a passion and love for photography. Michela is eager to learn and grow from the students she teaches, the dancers she works with, and the community she serves and is excited and honored to continue her

professional career in her first season with Ballet Hartford as a Corps de Ballet member.