Wheeling Teen Crowned Miss Dance Of America
17-Year-Old Payton Nickerson Wins National Title
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For Payton Nickerson, a dark stage, a single spotlight, and a full audience looking back at her is where she feels the most free.
Nickerson's 15-year dance career at Turn it Out Dance Academy in Bellaire culminated with the 17-year-old being crowned Miss Dance of America 2024 at the Dance Masters of America national competition recently in Atlanta, Georgia.
Following five audition classes, interviews and a regional Miss Dance of Ohio title, Nickerson performed a contemporary solo to secure her win at the national competition. She said she hopes to use her title to share her love for dance with others.
"It means the world to me, and it shows that hard work and dedication to something really does pay off," she said. "I'm blessed to have this title because that means I get to share my love for dance and inspire others on a wider spread."
Nickerson started dancing competitively at age 6 and won her first regional title at age 9 when she was crowned Petite Miss Dance of Ohio. She won her first national title just a few years later with the Miss Junior Dance of America 2018 title. Her last stop before her most recent win came in 2021 when she was awarded with the title of Teen Miss Dance of America.
Nickerson said the road to a national title is long and strenuous, but that the feeling of being on stage makes it all worth it.
"My joy comes from sharing my passion for dance with a group of people," she said. "I love to make the audience feel a certain way when I'm moving on stage, and I know how I feel when I'm dancing, which is free."
"I hope when I'm dancing and performing for an audience, they feel the same way," she continued.
Nickerson is a 2023 graduate of Wheeling Park High School and has been a TIO dance instructor for the last five years. Her average week consisted of a regular five-day school week and six-day dance schedule.
She said although time management was a challenge, she was inspired and motivated by her dance instructors.
"My dance teachers Mandy Doyle and Lacey Booth are my second moms, and sometimes I see them more than I do my actual mom because I spend so much time at the studio," she said. "They've trained me to be the person and dancer I am today, and I don't know where I would be without them."
Nickerson plans on continuing her dance career professionally in Los Angeles, California. She will hold the Miss Dance of America title for the next year before giving up her crown at next year's national competition in July in Anaheim, California.
She said although she is excited for future opportunities,
"I've made so many memories with my closest friends, and I've met so many amazing people along all my travels," she said. "It's taught me how to stay organized, determined, focused and how to work well with others."
"I pretty much owe everything that I am today to dance," she said.