Jade Payette, of Huntington Beach, California, is in her first season as an apprentice of The Washington Ballet after one season as a member of the Studio Company. She first began training at Southland Ballet Academy under direction of teacher Salwa Rizkalla and later attended and graduated from The Royal Ballet School in London. From 2001-2004, Ms. Payette received the National Training Scholarship from American Baller Theater and in 2003 and 2004 was awarded the silver medal at the Youth American Grand Prix Finals in New York.