Isabella (Bella) Schmitt grew up in Little Rock, Arkansas, and began dancing at the age of 4. She began her training at Shuffles and Ballet II, continuing at programs at Oklahoma City Ballet School, Ballet Austin, and Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre School. In 2020, she moved to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to pursue a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in dance from Point Park University. While in the conservatory, Schmitt trained under professors such as Jae Man Joo, Jesse Factor, Kiesha Lalama, and Susan Stowe.

 

Her artistry and dedication at school allowed her to work with choreographers Annabelle Lopez-Ochoa, Twyla Tharp, and Yoshiaki Nakano, among others. Closing out her senior year, she had the opportunity to perform as the “Jumping Girl” soloist in George Balanchine’s Who Cares?.

 

Following her college graduation in 2024, she joined Saint Louis Dance Theatre as a trainee, where she performed in works by Joshua Peugh, Geoff Alexander, and Brandon Fink, among others. Since moving to Saint Louis, she has performed in festivals such as National Dance Week, MADCO's Dare to Dance, and Resilience Dance Company's Contemporary Dance Festival. Bella is thrilled to return to Ballet 314 for a second season.