Samantha Barcia began her ballet training with the Florida Ballet at the age of 8 under our founder Laurie Picinich-Byrd. During her time attending Lavilla School of the Arts Middle School, she transferred to The Florida Ballet Conservatory in 2015. At the start of Samantha’s high school career, she was accepted into Douglas Anderson School of the Arts pursuing dance alongside Florida Ballet; graduating in 2020 with an arts seal.

Samantha danced with Orlando Ballet’s and Florida Ballet’s Summer Intensives and received a scholarship from Milwaukee Ballet at the National High School Dance Festival in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania. She studied at The University of South Florida in Tampa with a dance major in ballet performance in 2020/2021. She was accepted into the Trainee program at Florida Ballet in 2021 to pursue her career with the Florida Ballet Company.

Samantha has been promoted to a Company apprentice for the 2023/24 season. Previous roles within the Florida Ballet include Columbine Doll, Spanish, Marzipan, demi-soloist Flower, Cupid in Roberto Forleo’s Paquita, Moth Fairy in Forleo’s Midsummer Nights Dream, and Friends in Forleo’s Don Quixote.