Michelle Zada

We are absolutely thrilled and deeply honoured to officially welcome Michelle Zada to the MIU Family as our newest Horton guest faculty member!

Michelle is an extraordinary artist, mentor, and educational powerhouse whose career embodies the exact blend of elite lineage, technical precision, and pedagogical brilliance that defines M Intensive University.

A native of Columbus, Ohio, Michelle earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance Education (with a minor in Physical Education) from The Ohio State University, following early foundational training at the Theatre Street Dance Academy and the renowned BalletMet.

Her illustrious professional performing career spans some of the most celebrated contemporary and modern modern dance stages in America. She performed with Philadanco’s second company (D/2), the Lula Washington Dance Theater, and the Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Ensemble. Most notably, she dedicated five magnificent seasons to the prestigious Dallas Black Dance Theatre, where she also served as costume mistress. Beyond the stage, Michelle’s magnetic presence has made her a featured actress in high-profile national commercial and print campaigns for major global brands like McDonald's, Qdoba, and Brinks Home Security.

As an elite educator committed to holistic somatic mastery, Michelle holds advanced certifications in Comprehensive & Mat Pilates, Progressing Ballet Technique (PBT), and group exercise fitness (AFAA). Her dual passion for world-class performance and structured pedagogy has led her to conduct exclusive masterclasses across the United States and headline national conferences, including the Black College Dance Exchange (BCDE), Youth America Grand Prix (YAGP), and the International Association of Blacks in Dance (IABD).

For a decade, Michelle served as a pillar of academic excellence on the Dance Faculty at the famed Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts (BTWHSPVA), assuming the responsibilities of an Assistant Dance Conservatory Director and Director of the World Dance Ensemble. Her profound impact on the next generation of dance professionals earned her the highly revered distinction of Distinguished Teacher & Mentor from the Dallas Independent School District, the National YoungArts Foundation, and the U.S. Presidential Scholar Program.

Now based in Atlanta, Georgia, where she operates her private home boutique studio, Zada Movez Pilates, Michelle brings her rich expertise, deep understanding of codified modern technique, and radiant energy to our global digital campus.

Her appointment marks an incredible new chapter for our Horton curriculum, and our students simply cannot wait to dance with her!