Dakota Merritt is Las Vegas born and raised. She grew up training at Bunker Dance Center under the direction of Kathy Bunker. She also attended Las Vegas Academy of Arts. During this time she trained under artists like, Peter Chu, Naomi Stikeman, Jeanene Huggins, and Robert Contreras. After graduation she moved onto the University of Arizona to peruse a BFA in dance and a minor in nutritional sciences. While there she had the opportunity to perform in works by Autumn Eckman, Christopher Compton, Tammy Dyke-Compton, Jason Horton, as well as pieces such as Frank Chavez’s’ “Habaneras, The Music of Cuba”, set by Hayley Meier and Jason Horton, and Paul Taylor’s “Cloven Kingdom”, set by Linda Kent. Dakota has also attended summer programs including Orsolina 28, OpenDoorsNorthAmerica, and ChuTHis. After Arizona Dakota moved to Los Angeles where she had to opportunity to join Benita Bike Dance Art as a company member for their 44th season. Currently Dakota resides in Los Angeles as a professional freelance artist and as a licsenced personal trainer. This is Dakota’s first season with Backhausdance.