Dance has been a lifelong passion for Payton who began training when she was seven in styles including jazz, tap, ballet, Irish dance, acrobatics, and later pointe. As an adult she was introduced to circus arts and began training in and performing pole, aerial hoop, hammock, and silks.
About
Payton Glagau is a Canadian performer, choreographer, instructor, producer and model. She tells unique stories though her art work by connecting emotions and movement in diverse ways. Payton's work stands out as she continues to train in a variety of styles and blends different techniques to create innovative dynamics through experimentation in her choreography. Examples include pointe and pole, acrobatics and lyra, partner acrobatics and contemporary, lyrical and acrobatics on a spinning office chair, silks and hoop, and most recently rigging a hoop from an aerial hammock.
Payton began dancing professionally through Artists Elite International in 2012 and in 2015 she debuted her first professional choreography through the company. She continued to share her work as an independent artist on Calgary's most prestigious stages including The Bella Concert Hall, The Jack Singer, and The Jubilee Auditorium. Payton has also performed at numerous cultural and charity events in Calgary. In her time as a performer Payton has danced for a variety of audiences from soirees at local venues with 30 guests to sold out productions seating 800 patrons.
​
As a teacher Payton developed the SASY Syllabus for jazz, lyrical, acrobatics, and aerial classes for Strut Fitness and Dance. She also created the circus program at Dance With France.These classes build a strong technical foundation and teach performance skills. Payton is experienced in coaching competition solos in aerial and acrobatic styles. Most recently Payton has started her school, Payton's School of Circus & Dance, in Montreal with classes in a large variety of disciplines.
Payton graduated from École Nationale de Cirque's online teacher training program in 2022 and is a certified pole instructor through Pole and Aerial Fitness Academy.
Payton began modeling in 2017 and has mainly appeared in dance and circus focused promotional material for show posters, local fashion brands and aerial dance rigging.
Photos by Grey Hills Studio & PSO