With our production of Coppélia now only days away, we are proud to spotlight Dancing Arts Center alumnus Trevor PinterParsons, age 19, of Holliston, who will be dancing the lead role of Franz!
Trevor trained at Dancing Arts Center for many years, growing from a boy to a strong young man and accomplished dancer in the process. In his years at DAC, Trevor danced the parts of Fritz, the battle Nutcracker/Nutcracker prince, and the Cavalier in Dancing Arts Center’s The Nutcracker at the Norwood theater, as well as dancing roles in yearly spring concerts and competing in Youth America Grand Prix (YAGP). In the 2021 YAGP semi-finals, Trevor placed 3rd in Senior Men’s Classical and top six in Senior Men’s Contemporary, earning him a spot at the finals held in Tampa, Florida. That spring, Trevor graduated from high school and went on to a summer intensive with Cincinnati Ballet, from which he was offered and accepted a trainee position.
Having completed his first year as a trainee, Trevor has returned to Dancing Arts Center to dance the role of Franz in our first full-length production of Coppélia. During his year in Cincinnati, Trevor performed several roles, including pas de deux from Sleeping Beauty (wedding and Puss ‘n Boots), Romeo and Juliet, Don Quixote, Spring Waters, and two contemporary pieces. In Cincinnati Ballet Company productions he performed as a horse in King Arthur’s Camelot, a mouse and party parent in The Nutcracker, and a mouse puppeteer and horse in Cinderella. “The goal is to be a human next year,” Trevor joked. More seriously, Trevor said, “The biggest way my dancing has changed would probably be partnering. Before coming to Cincinnati, I usually only partnered one other dancer at a time, but at Cincinnati I got to perform pas de deux with seven different girls. Being able to learn how many different people work and yet still maintaining the flexibility to dance with anyone put in front of you proved an important ability to train.”
Trevor returned to Massachusetts and the DAC studios only two weeks before the Coppélia ; preparing from afar was a new experience, but fortunately he had danced parts of the role in the past and was able to watch performance footage, including fellow DAC alumnus Jacob Clerico (now a company member with American Ballet Theater). Because his final year at DAC was truncated by continuing health protocols and his final performance was in-studio and presented only via livestream, Trevor is very excited to return for this performance. Not only does he find it fun and relaxing to dance again with Gabrielle Schmid (Swanilda), but after his time in Cincinnati working with several partners – sometimes without much rehearsal – he appreciates how special it is to have years of history with a partner. “I also love getting to cheer on my friends once again as they perform and see how far the younger dancers have come since I last saw them,” said Trevor. “Instead of seeing myself as a returning guest artist, this year feels like finally getting to perform for the last time as a DAC dancer.”
Trevor is thankful to Mr. Saulnier and Mr. Notaro for offering him the opportunity, and the Dancing Arts Center family is thrilled to have Trevor back for Coppélia. His dancing is polished and powerful, but most of all he brings tremendous humor and a sense of fun to the role of Franz. Don’t miss the chance to see a young dancer on the rise: June 12th at Ashland High School, 4 p.m!
Tickets available for general admission online or at the door.