MEET THE TEAM
Michaella Barron
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Michaella Barron is a Detroit-born choreographer, performer, educator, and Founder and Artistic Director of Forza Dance. She trained at Interlochen Arts Academy and graduated summa cum laude from the Ailey/Fordham BFA Program, earning degrees in Dance and International Political Economy.
Barron’s work spans concert dance, film, and interdisciplinary performance. Her choreography has been presented at venues across NYC, including Teatro LATEA, Triskelion Arts, Arts On Site, and The Rose Nagelberg Theatre, as well as nationally at San Antonio’s Luminaria Arts Festival. She has been commissioned to create work for Borne Dance Company, Dance of Persia, Dance Parade, and by notable composers. Barron is a recipient of the 2025 and 2026 New York State Council on the Arts grants and the Gibney Community Trust Residency. Recently, she was commissioned by the Jamaica Center of Arts and Learning to revise a work in progress and premiere the work, Breaking Bonds, at the Making Moves Dance Festival.
As an educator, she has taught nationally and internationally, including in Italy and at institutions such as Southern Methodist University, Texas Woman’s University, and the University of St. Thomas in Houston.
Across her artistic practice, Michaella is committed to cultivating collaborative, dynamic creative environments and reimagining how dance can draw humanity together, fostering greater empathy for one another and for our planet.
Gabrielle DiNizo
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Gabrielle DiNizo, an Ohio native, graduated summa cum laude with a BFA in Dance and English from Fordham University/The Ailey School, where she performed works by Robert Battle, Earl Mosley, Brice Mousset, and Adam Barruch. Her performance credits include Parsons Dance, LaneCoArts, Jon Lehrer Dance Company, and XY Motion, an evening-length duet directed by Xiang Xu. Gabrielle is an understudy with Parsons Dance, where she also serves as Digital Marketing & Media Manager. A founding company artist with Forza Dance, Gabrielle has collaborated with Artistic Director Michaella Barron since 2020, helping shape the company's vision and bring it to life. She also serves as Forza Dance's Development Director, advancing fundraising initiatives and supporting the organization's continued growth. With love and joy, Gabrielle is grateful to work alongside the incredible artists and individuals who make up the Forza community.
Headshots by Sarah Takash Photography
We are a New York City based non-profit organization expanding access to dance through affordable professional development, innovative performance experiences, and community-centered programming.