Boston Conservatory Adds a Robust Roster of Artists to Its Faculty

Boston Conservatory Adds a Robust Roster of Artists to Its Faculty Nearly 30 new faculty across the Dance, Music, and Theater divisions bring industry expertise from the Boston Ballet to Broadway and from the fields of ethnomusicology to circus arts.

September 4, 2024

Former Boston Ballet principal dancer John Lam, actor De'Lon Grant, and mezzo-soprano Sandra Piques Eddy are among dozens of new Conservatory faculty members.

DanceDana Arie (associate professor of dance) is a licensed physical therapist who combines her background in rehabilitation with Pilates practice. She specializes in orthopedic and dance medicine as well as Latin dance and will teach Pilates at the Conservatory.

Nino de los Reyes (associate professor of dance) is a rising star in the contemporary flamenco world who has toured with Eduardo Serrano's EL G ITO company, Carmen Cort s, Javier Bar n, and Tito Losada, among others. In 2013, he took part in a recording session of flamenco rhythm and footwork for legendary artist Paul Simon. An experienced instructor, de los Reyes will teach the Flamenco course at the Conservatory.

Anne Higgins (assistant professor of dance) is a dancer, choreographer, and Floor-Barre instructor who trained in classical ballet with the Boston Ballet and studied Floor-Barre with Zena Rommett. Higgins will teach Floor Barre at the Conservatory.

Emily Jerant-Hendrickson (assistant professor of dance) is a Boston Conservatory alum (BFA 16, contemporary dance) and a member of Lorraine Chapman the Company who has performed at Ailey Citigroup Theater, APAP (Association of Performing Arts Professionals) at City Center NYC, and the Cape Dance Festival, among others. She will teach Yoga for Dancers at the Conservatory.

Sarah Konner (associate professor of dance) is dance artist, improviser, and somatic movement educator who has presented dance-theater performances at venues across the country. Konner has served on the faculties of Smith College, Amherst College, and Wesleyan University and will teach courses in modern technique, experiential anatomy, and awareness for dancers at the Conservatory.

Aline Newton (assistant professor of dance) is a certified advanced Rolfer (a holistic therapy for enhancing body alignment) who serves as chair of the Rolf Movement Integration faculty of the U.S. Rolf Institute. Newton will teach Experiential Anatomy at the Conservatory.

John Lam (associate professor of dance) joins the Conservatory following a remarkable 20-year performance career at the Boston Ballet, where he was a principal dancer. A Princess Grace Foundation fellowship recipient, Lam has worked with contemporary ballet's leading choreographers and coaches. He will teach Ballet Technique, Modern Technique, and Stretch and Strengthening at the Conservatory.

Danielle Pastuszak (associate professor of dance) is comprehensively certified in mat and apparatus Pilates with Polestar Pilates and is founder of mvmt ology, which provides physical therapy and Pilates instruction. She has danced with Mystic Ballet and Urbanity Dance, and was a principal dancer in Greta Gerwig's film Little Women. Pastuszak will teach Pilates at the Conservatory.

Liz Roncka (associate professor of dance) combines expertise as a lifelong dancer with more than 10 years of experience as physical therapist. A certified Pilates instructor, Roncka opened her own Pilates studio and was an instructor of dance improvisation and pole dance circuit at Boston University. She will teach Vertical Barre and Conditioning for Dancers at the Conservatory.

Jacob Skeffington (assistant professor of dance) is a specialist in circus arts and cofounder and head coach at Eastern Acrobatics and Circus, a recreational and professional acrobatics circus school. Having performed with Cirque du Soleil and trained at top schools for circus arts, Skeffington will bring his expertise to teaching Tumbling for the Stage and Juggling and Objects courses as part of the Conservatory's brand new minor in cirque/circus arts.

MusicIvana Kujeric Bili (professor of marimba) is an internationally recognized marimba and percussion artist who regularly appears as soloist with orchestras across Europe and at international music festivals. She regularly presents marimba clinics and master classes and is a frequent guest performer at the Opatija Music Panel. She will teach marimba and percussion courses at the Conservatory in a one-year appointment.

Sandra Piques Eddy (associate professor of music for voice and opera) is an acclaimed American mezzo-soprano and longtime Met performer whose roles have included Cherubino (Le nozze di Figaro), Lola (Cavalleria rusticana), Zulma (Litaliana in Algeri), Rosette (Manon), and Mercedes (Carmen), among many others. A Boston Conservatory alum (BM 94, music education), she will teach private voice lessons at the Conservatory.

Manuel Garc a-Orozco (assistant professor of ethnomusicology) is a Latin Grammy-winning and Grammy-nominated music producer, composer, and ethnomusicologist. Under his label, Chaco World Music, he has produced internationally acclaimed albums and collaborations with artists including Petrona Mart nez, Angelique Kidjo, Susana Baca, and others. He will teach Music and Culture in Context and other Core Studies courses at the Conservatory.

Laurann Gilley (associate professor of music) is a respected pianist, conductor, and vocal coach who has coached for every major American opera company. Most recently, she served as head of music with the Florentine Opera in Milwaukee and has been a pianist and coach with the Ryan Opera Center at Lyric Opera of Chicago for the past 16 years. Gilley will serve as a vocal coach at the Conservatory.

Michael Gilbertson (associate professor of composition) joins Boston Conservatory after serving on the composition faculty at San Francisco Conserva

LINK:	https://www.berklee.edu/berklee-now/news/boston-conservatory-adds-a-ro...
	See more stories from berklee

More from Berklee