About Payton Primer

Payton Primer (she/her) is a modern/contemporary dancer and designer based in New York City.

Originally from Dallas, Texas, she trained at Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts and was a Contemporary/Modern Dance Finalist in the 2018 National YoungArts competition. She graduated summa cum laude from Fordham University/The Ailey School, earning a BFA in Dance, Anthropology, and International Studies (Global Affairs).

She has performed works by esteemed choreographers such as Lar Lubovitch, Paul Taylor, Robert Battle, Peter Chu, Annabelle Lopez Ochoa, Penny Saunders, Helen Simoneau, Ray Mercer, Yusha-Marie Sorzano, and Ethan Colangelo. Her career has taken her across the United States and internationally to Armenia, Georgia, and Germany. 

Notably, Payton debuted with the Paul Taylor Dance Company in Arden Court at The Kennedy Center and has toured in major works such as Company B, Cascade, and Cloven Kingdom. She has performed at prestigious venues and festivals including the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater Spirit Gala at Lincoln Center’s David H. Koch Theater, the Vail Dance Festival, The Joyce Theater, and the American Dance Festival.

Before joining Paul Taylor Dance Company, she apprenticed with IKada Contemporary Dance Company and Jon Lehrer Dance Company, and danced with Gaspard and Dancers, the Taylor Outreach Ensemble, Alison Cook Beatty Dance, and Adams Company Dance.

Payton currently dances with Paul Taylor Dance Company.