Shaina Pearl Leibson began her training at the Massachusetts Youth Ballet. She then attended the San Francisco Ballet School under the direction of Helgi Tomasson and associate director Gloria Govrin.

After graduating for the San Francisco Ballet School, Shaina performed with the Alberta Ballet in Canada, and with Ballet Austin in Texas.

In 2003, she accepted a scholarship to attend the London Studio Centre in England, where Shaina performed on tour with Images of Dance.

Prior to joining Ballet San Jose, she danced with the Vienna Festival Ballet, and both participated & performed in the Gotland International Dance Seminar in Sweden.