Biography

Shannon Parsley began her professional dance career with the Fort Worth Ballet, followed by Miami City Ballet where she was promoted to soloist in 2001. Parsley joined Boston Ballet in 2002 while also dancing as a soloist with The Suzanne Farrell Ballet.

Parsley’s repertoire contains a vast collection of Balanchine works, including principal and soloist roles in Emeralds, Who Cares?, Agon, Duo Concertant, La Source, Divertimento No. 15, Apollo, and the revival of Divertimento Brillante. She has performed the works of Sir Frederick Ashton, Mark Morris, Rudolf Nureyev, Marius Petipa, and Paul Taylor. In 2005, Parsley danced at the Kennedy Center Honors in recognition of Suzanne Farrell. On The Suzanne Farrell Ballet’s 2006 tour to Edinburgh, Scotland, Parsley danced leading roles in George Balanchine’s Don Quixote and also staged the children in the production.

The Balanchine Trust invited Parsley to stage Serenade for the North Carolina School of the Arts. Parsley began her rehearsal director career with The Suzanne Farrell Ballet. Parsley joined Boston Ballet’s artistic staff in 2006 in her fourth role with the organization; previously as a Company dancer, a Boston Ballet School faculty member, and Children’s Rehearsal Director. Along with teaching, coaching and staging repertoire, Parsley’s role as Artistic Coordinator communicates with all departments and creates Company daily rehearsal schedules.