Company

Name: Nia Grace Lessard

Company Position: Junior Apprentice

Joined Ballet RI:  Joined Ballet RI as a Junior Apprentice in 2023

Hometown: Framingham, MA

Training/Education: Pacific Northwest Ballet Professional Division

Favorite Quote: “It’s finished, it’s done. You can’t take loved away” -Nona the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir

Favorite Role or Ballet & Why:

I like to create a character for every ballet I perform, to make it extra fun and to add intention to the movement. My favorite is when I was in the corps de ballet for Swan Lake, I would imagine I was a lost princess dreaming of returning home. I would love to perform a role like Tatiana from Onegin, where the character is already written and I could really delve into her emotions on stage.

Accomplishment you are most proud of: I am most proud of who I am as an artist, in my authenticity, curiosity and love that I bring to the studio every day. I celebrate each tiny accomplishment, as they are all part of my growth to being the best dancer I can be.

Fun Fact about yourself: I collect vintage media! I have cassette tapes, 8-tracks, vinyl records, and about 75 VHS tapes that I watch on my VCR TV. I still have a recording of Mikhail Baryshnikov and Gelsey Kirkland in The Nutcracker that I watched as a kid!

Follow Nia on Instagram @niagracelessard