Heather Merritt grew up in Atlanta, Georgia where she began dancing at the Atlanta School of Ballet. At the age of thirteen Heather was chosen to be a company dancer with the Atlanta Ballet II, a pre-professional company to the Atlanta Ballet. In addition to her training in Atlanta she spent summers continuing her dance education at such prestigious schools as the Westside School of Ballet in Santa Monica, CA, the David Howard Studio in New York City, and the Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet.

Heather received her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Ballet Performance from the University of Utah. During her four years of college she was awarded the Olga V. Alexandria dance scholarship and performed in a wide variety of ballet and modern productions with the University’s Ballet Ensemble and the Utah Ballet showcase. After graduation Ms. Merritt began her professional career dancing in the outdoor musical drama Utah!, and continued for over a decade to dance professionally with the Charleston Ballet Theatre, the Maryland Ballet, The National Ballet, and the International Ballet at Carnegie Hall in New York City.

 Since the age of nineteen Heather has taught simultaneously for private dance studios while maintaining a professional dance career. Her area of expertise covers a vast array of dance genres and in 2007 she was awarded Best Ballet Technique Driven Instructor of Memphis, Tennessee by Destined 2 Dance. Ms. Merritt has also been a guest choreographer for dance companies, competitive dance teams, and has been an instructor and judicator for the Dance Masters of America.

In 2007, Ms. Merritt returned to Charleston and became a certified South Carolina educator where she is currently on faculty as the dance teacher of Fort Dorchester High School.