Betty Gabriel was born in Washington D.C. and raised in both Pittsburgh and Hyattsville, MD. After graduating from Iowa State University with a bachelor's degree in Animal Science/Pre-Vet, she moved to Chicago to become a modern dancer. She also studied acting. After years of performing as a dancer and an actor at reputable theaters such as Steppenwolf and Victory Gardens, she decided to further her studies and is now a graduate of The Juilliard School.