James Payne brings more than 35 years of experience to preparing young dancers for the demands and opportunities of a professional career. As a former dancer with Ballet West and Houston Ballet, an experienced school director, and an international teacher and répétiteur, he connects a student’s daily training with the expectations of the profession.

Payne began his training in Phoenix with Nina Marlow, the great-niece of Michel Fokine. During his performing career with Ballet West and Houston Ballet, he danced soloist and principal roles in classical and contemporary repertoire, including works by George Balanchine, Jiří Kylián, William Forsythe, Michael Smuin, Peter Martins, Paul Taylor, and Sir Kenneth MacMillan. He also worked directly with choreographers Ben Stevenson, Christopher Bruce, Ronald Hynd, Glen Tetley, John Neumeier, and Trey McIntyre. Those collaborations, together with the breadth of repertoire he performed, inform his teaching, helping students develop the technical command, musicality, and versatility needed to work across different styles.

His educational leadership includes serving as School Director at Philadelphia Ballet, Principal Faculty and Trainee Coordinator at Ballet West Academy, and a faculty member at Houston Ballet Academy. He also co-founded and led a ballet school and student performing company in The Woodlands, Texas, for 17 years. These roles have given him extensive experience guiding dancers through critical stages of their development, from building strong foundations to preparing for auditions and the transition into professional life.

At SBAZ, Payne’s focus is on purposeful training, thoughtful mentorship, and helping students understand how to take ownership of their progress. His experience as a choreographer and répétiteur brings a rehearsal-room perspective to that work, encouraging dancers to become confident, responsive artists as well as capable technicians.

Payne continues to serve as a master teacher and adjudicator for Youth America Grand Prix, including regional competitions and Finals, and stages Trey McIntyre’s ballets internationally. These ongoing professional connections inform the perspective he brings to students pursuing full-time training at The School of Ballet Arizona.