ANN PARSLEY, D.F.C.C.A.
The National Executive Board of Directors of the Cecchetti Council of America is proud to present a brief bio of ANN PARSLEY:
Ann received her early dance training from Lois Meisner and continued her dance education in the Cecchetti Method with Amy Cooper, Rose Marie Floyd, and Linda Butler
She received a BFA in Dance from Oakland University, graduating summa cum laude with honors in dance and was awarded the first Outstanding Alumni Award in Dance by the university.
Ann is the founder of the Ann Parsley School of Dance and the Macomb Ballet Company, a non-profit ballet company. She was a 25-year Executive Board member of the Macomb Arts Council and Chair of the Annual Dance Festival. She has taught at Oakland University and guest taught throughout the U.S. as well as in Taiwan and Jamaica. Currently, Ann coaches ballet teachers in the Dallas, Texas area in the Cecchetti Method. She has presented students and teachers through the Maestro Cecchetti Diploma. In proud collaboration with Mark Gottlieb, musician and storyteller, Ann choreographed the world premiere of Un Encuentro (An Encounter with Life).
Several of Ann’s students have opened their own dance studios and/or danced professionally in a wide variety of dance and performance genres including hip hop, touring with auto shows, choreographing, dancing in movies, performing with the Detroit Opera Theatre, the Peter Sparling Company, Miami City Ballet, and New York City Ballet. Others have directed their own dance companies.
Ann holds the Maestro Cecchetti Diploma and is a Permanent Examiner. She is on the NEBD Development Committee, is a Past President of the CCA, and is a Liaison Officer. For many years, she was Coordinator of the CCA’s Summer School and Teacher’s Course at Michigan State University, Cleveland Ballet, and Hope College. Ann is a CCA Delegate to the Cecchetti International Classical Ballet meetings.
She lives in Allen, Texas with her husband, Dwight, and has two daughters and seven grandchildren.