Samantha began her dance journey at the age of 6 at Art Ballet Academy in Arlington, Texas, where she trained in the Vaganova ballet curriculum for 12 years. From ages 12 to 18, she danced pre-professionally with the academy and performed in their annual winter and spring productions. Some of her favorite roles performed include Clara and Sugarplum Fairy in The Nutcracker, Odile in Swan Lake, Cinderella, and the Gioconda Pas de Deux in Coppelia. 

Samantha also competed in various prestigious ballet competitions, including the Youth America Grand Prix and World Ballet Competition. She was invited to the international Youth America Grand Prix Finals as a ballet and contemporary soloist for four consecutive years, and earned the silver medal at the World Ballet Competition in 2023. 

Samantha is currently a sophomore studying chemical engineering at the University of Texas at Austin. She continues to nurture her passion for dance through UT Austin’s ballet organization, Texas Ballet. With her extensive training in ballet and contemporary, Samantha strives to create an encouraging yet disciplined classroom environment where students can build confidence and develop their artistry.