Sarah Swanson is originally from New Jersey where she began her dance training with Princeton Dance and Theater. She has performed in many classical and contemporary works throughout her years of training, most notably: Balanchine’s Apollo, Balanchine’s Serenade, Symphonie Italienne, Sleeping Beauty, Swan Lake, Balanchine’s Tchaikovsky Pas de deux, and Balanchine’s Walpurgisnacht. She was coached on the variation “Terpsichore” from Balanchine’s Apollo by former New York City Ballet principal, Nilas Martins. While in school Sarah attended many summer programs including American Ballet Theater and The Orlando Ballet. She is a graduate of Mercyhurst University attending on academic scholarships, and receiving a B.F.A. in Ballet Performance. Previously, Sarah was on the faculty for The School of Ballet Indiana where she taught ballet, pointe, and contemporary to all levels as well as coached her students for YAGP, having them place in 1st and 2nd for both their classical and contemporary works. Since moving to South Carolina, she has been teaching at Bailey Fine Arts Centre and The Academy of Lexington Youth Ballet, where she teaches a variety of classes including Ballet, Pointe, Contemporary, and Jazz to all levels as well as choreographs for their staged productions and competition companies. The last few summers Sarah has had the privilege of being on the teaching faculty at the University of South Carolina Summer Dance Conservatory where she taught Ballet, Pointe, and Variations to pre-professional students. Sarah is also an Adjunct Faculty Member at The University of South Carolina Dance Department teaching Dance Appreciation and Ballet Technique to pre-professional dance students as well as arts and dance related lecture based courses to the general U of SC student population. Sarah is an ABT® Certified Teacher, who has successfully completed the ABT® Teacher Training Intensive in Pre-Primary through Level 5 of the ABT® National Training Curriculum. Additionally, Sarah is certified in Progressing Ballet Technique (PBT), a ballet based cross training curriculum designed specifically for dancers. Along with teaching, Sarah is also a professional dancer previously with Ballet Indiana and Columbia Classical Ballet, she is currently a free-lance professional dancer in the area. Sarah is excited to begin her second year as a choreographer for the competition team and her third year of teaching at BFA!

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