Hailing from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Rishell Maxwell discovered her passion for dancing at the age of 12. Her formal training began under the tutelage of Angie Wilkerson at Louisiana Leadership Institute. She then continued her practice with Dancers’ Workshop and her alma mater Baton Rouge Magnet High School, where she performed in several Debbie Allen productions. After graduating from high school, Maxwell was given the opportunity to study at pioneering dance schools such as Debbie Allen Dance Academy in Los Angeles, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in New York City, Garth Fagan Dance in Rochester, and Deeply Rooted in Chicago. She began her professional career with Garth Fagan Dance in 2016 and later rose to become a soloist and principal dancer at the age of 22. After the pandemic, Maxwell took a leap of faith and moved to Atlanta to continue pursuing her dance career.