Dancer, Michael Jurica was born in Albuquerque, New Mexico. He moved to Portland, Oregon when he was four years old, but it was not until seven years later that Michael began dancing. His interest in dance began with Ballroom and Breakdance lessons at a recreational dance studio, Billing Dance Center. Michael became more serious about dance at sixteen when he transferred to the public arts school, Arts and Communications Magnet Academy, and began ballet at The Portland Ballet, under the directorship of Nancy Davis. Michael finished his dance education at University of North Carolina School of the Arts, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance. Michael joined Rochester City Ballet in 2016.