zoë brielle payne
Dance & Bmore Ensemble
In August 2025, Zoe joined the Dance & Bmore Ensemble. They are a diverse ensemble of singers, dancers, poets and musicians who create a fusion of socially conscious work that is both interactive and empowering. Our highly engaging and spontaneous collaborations are less of a performance style and more of an unforgettable experience.
This past year she performed at the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, Maryland Thespian Festival, Maryland Film Festival, Cahill Performing Arts Center Bmore Broadway Live Show as well as previously performing in a cancer outreach informational performance in collaboration with JHU and a performance at the Bmore Waterfront.
West Virginia Dance Company
August 2024- May 2025
In August 2024, Zoe joined the West Virginia Dance Company under the direction of Toneta Akers Toler. Based in Beckley, WV the company works full time providing enriching public performances around WV and the Mid-Atlantic Region and take educational programming into schools through performances and workshops.
In the 2024-2025 season they performed work by Gerri Houlihan, Toneta Akers-Toler, Dane Toney and Donald Laney for their public performances.
WNO's Premiere of Turandot
by Jessica Lang & Kanji Segawa
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In Spring of 2024, Zoe was a member of the Washington National Opera's World Premiere of Turandot performed at The Kennedy Center under choreographers Jessica Lang and Kanji Segawa. Read more about the opera and the process behind the work by Francesca Zambello in the NPR article below.
Guest Artist with Augusta Youth Ballet Company
Zoe joined the Augusta Youth Ballet Company as "The Huntress" for their Winter Production of Ballets of Enchantment where she was a feature guest artist in Firebird. She also stepped in as rehearsal assistant and coached the lead firebird through variation and pas de deux work.
Java & Jazz at The Colonial Theater
Zoe stepped in to guest perform at West Virginia Weslyean College's event Java and Jazz at the Colonial Arts Center in Buckhannon, WV. She performed with Chicago's own Maggie Brown and WVU's Jazz band.
Peabody Dance Ensemble
From 2022-2023, Zoe was part of Peabody's Institute's Peabody Dance Ensemble. Performing work by Kelly Hirina, Mike Esperanza, Sorah Yang, and Michael Nickerson Rossi. She traveled to perform for the Palm Springs International Dance Festival and also performed around Baltimore and NYC during their year long season.
Vaught Contemporary Dance Company
2020-2022 Zoe was part of Vaught Contemporary Ballet Company directed by Katie Vaught. Based in Baltimore, they performed at Nachmo Choreography Showcases as well as producing their own shows including Momento Mori at Baltimore Theatre Project in the Spring of 2021.
