Gianna Reisen was born in Wyckoff, New Jersey. She trained at her local dance studio, In the Spotlight, for four years until accepting a spot at the School of American Ballet in 2010. Reisen studied the Balanchine technique for 7 years, performing in six of the school’s annual June Workshops where she danced corps de ballet and soloist roles in works by George Balanchine, Jerome Robbins, Christopher Wheeldon, and Peter Martins.

For three years, Reisen created works alongside her former ballet instructor, Lisa Danias, for benefit performances with the goal of raising money for causes such as Oasis: Women and Children’s Shelter and YCS: Youth Consultation Services. In the fall of 2015, she choreographed for the School of American Ballet’s Student Choreographic Workshop and presented a pas de deux titled, Ford’s Farm, to music composed by Mason Bates. Following her work at SAB, Reisen was asked to create a piece for the Fall Session of the New York Choreographic Institute where she showcased her ballet, Hexapoda.

In 2017, Reisen signed an apprentice contract with Dresden SemperOper Ballet. That same year, she was commissioned to choreograph a new work for the New York City Ballet’s Fall Fashion Gala, naming her the youngest choreographer in history to offer a ballet to NYCB’s storied repertory. After premiering her work, Composer’s Holiday, the piece would go on to run for the company’s upcoming Winter Season, at Saratoga Performing Arts Center, the Kennedy Center in Washington DC, and for NYCB’s Spring Season (2020.) In 2018, Gianna created her second work for NYCB, Judah, for their next Fall Fashion Gala. Soon after, Reisen accepted a spot as a dancer and choreographer for the Los Angeles Dance Project where she danced for two years and premiered her first work for LADP, Rising Water. In the spring of 2021, she returned full circle, directing and choreographing her first film for SAB’s annual Winter Ball. Now, she is currently working with Columbia Ballet Collaborative and continuing her journey as a free-lance choreographer in New York City.