BAC Alumni
Emily Parker
Emily Parker: "I grew up going to BAC. My time there really shaped who I am as a dancer and person. I’m currently living my childhood dream as a professional ballet dancer with Oregon Ballet Theatre. My training at BAC gave me the solid technical foundation and versatility that is necessary to get a job in dance. The faculty pushed and empowered us to work hard and move out of our comfort zones, exploring movement beyond just classical ballet- they gave me confidence to perform and try new things. I learned how meaningful dance can be and what it feels like to express myself in new ways. I loved going every single day because of the strong bonds and friendships I made with the other students and teachers. It is such a positive and supportive environment, I felt truly myself whenever I was there. I learned the importance of hard work and discipline, and how to enjoy it. BAC creates people who are responsible, caring, supportive, driven, and appreciative of art and community. I owe much of my current success and happiness to the wonderful people I learned from and with at BAC."
Emily Jerant-Hendrickson
Emily Jerant-Hendrickson began dancing at Ballet Arts Centre in 1997 and continued training until she graduated in 2012. Now she is a graduate of the Boston Conservatory, holding a BFA in contemporary dance with an emphasis in choreography. During her time at the Conservatory, she had the opportunity to perform works by Andrea Miller, Uri Sands, Richard Colton, Tommy Neblett and Cathy Young. Emily has also been a member of Lorraine Chapman the Company since 2011 where she has performed in venues such as the Ailey Citigroup Theater, APAP at City Center NYC, Six Degrees of Separation NYC, the Cape Dance Festival, the Southern Vermont Dance Festival, the Boston Center for the Arts, and Massachusetts Dance Festival, among others. Emily has also performed with other local artists including Daniel McCusker, Audra Carabetta, Annie Kloppenberg, and Ilya Vidrin. In addition to performing, Emily’s choreography has been performed at Gibney Dance Center NYC, Manhattan Movement Arts, The Boston Conservatory, The Canterbury Shaker Village, The Dance Complex, and Green Street Studios. She was on faculty at BAC teaching all levels of Modern classes.
Nicole Gariepy Marley
Nicole Gariepy Marley received her training in ballet, jazz, and modern dance at Ballet Arts Centre. As a member of BAC’s Performance Company, she appeared in the Mass Festival for the Arts and Jose Mateo’s Dance for World Community Festival. Additionally, she has performed with Sarah Slifer Swift, Forty Steps Dance, and the Salem Dance Ensemble at Salem State University, where she received the Presidential Arts Scholarship and the Creativity Award in Dance. Further opportunities with the Salem Dance Ensemble have included training with Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater of New York and performing in Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida.
Nicole’s passion for teaching extends across various disciplines. Upon completing her master’s degree in Teaching English as a Second Language at Boston University, she joined Boston University’s faculty as an English as a Second Language Lecturer. She enjoys balancing her time between teaching English in Boston and teaching ballet at Ballet Arts Centre. BAC has been thrilled to have alumnus Nicole Gariepy Marley on faculty since 2013.
Nicole’s passion for teaching extends across various disciplines. Upon completing her master’s degree in Teaching English as a Second Language at Boston University, she joined Boston University’s faculty as an English as a Second Language Lecturer. She enjoys balancing her time between teaching English in Boston and teaching ballet at Ballet Arts Centre. BAC has been thrilled to have alumnus Nicole Gariepy Marley on faculty since 2013.