Sallee

Michael is from Winchester MA and is currently enrolled in a certificate program at Middlesex Community College in Lowell. He started learning ballet five years ago to help recover from an injury that occurred during his other main athletic passion, Brazilian jujitsu. He holds a purple belt in jujitsu, and has been training in that discipline for nearly seven years. Returning for his third season with the company, Michael enjoys improving his technique and learning new elements of dance and creative expression. Michael has previously appeared in productions of the Nutcracker with the Winchester Ballet Conservatory, and in various youth productions both the cast and part of the pit playing the violin. Outside of dance, Michael is also passionate about history, film, and jurisprudence. Michael joined Forty Steps Dance in 2016.

​Etienne began his training in his native Puerto Rico at La Escuela Julian E. Blanco and at El Conservatorio de Ballet Concierto de Puerto Rico (Where he has also performed with The Company of Ballet Concierto). He continued his studies at El Instituto Superior de Danza Alicia Alonso of The Rey Juan Carlos University of Madrid, where he graduated with a Masters in Performing Arts. He was a member of El Joven Ballet de la Camara de Madrid for five years, where he has performed throughout Spain. Subsequently, he has worked with Ballet Brio of Puerto Rico for two years and has guested and choreographed for many dance companies internationally. Presently he is a member of Forty Steps Dance and Danza Organica, with whom he has performed at Jacob’s Pillow last year. He presently resides in Massachusetts where he also teaches classical ballet around the Boston area. Etienne joined Forty Steps Dance in 2013.

Nicole is from Woburn, MA and received her dance training in ballet, jazz, and modern from Ballet Arts Centre in Winchester. As a BAC student, she was a member of the Performance Company, where she danced in the Mass Festival for the Arts and Dance for World Community, as well as receiving the annual student scholarship for commitment to dance. She is now pursuing a B.A. in English with a minor in Dance at Salem State University, where she has performed with the Repertory Dance Theatre and Salem Dance Ensemble. Beyond Salem State, she has performed with Sarah Slifer Swift’s dancers in several productions across the North Shore area. She now teaches ballet at Ballet Arts Centre and enjoys performing with Forty Steps Dance.

Darcy began dancing at 5 years old. She has studied classical ballet, pointe, character, modern dance, jazz, and contact improvisation. She has shared the stage with principals of American Ballet Theatre, New York City Ballet, and National Ballet of Canada. Some of Darcy’s roles include Sugar Plum Fairy in The Nutcracker, sylph soloist in Les Sylphides, Swanhilda in “Dance of the Wheat” from Giselle, lead soloist in Monsoon Winds and Five-One Progression by contemporary choreographers Sally Rousse and Lisa de Ribère. Darcy studied at St. Paul’s School, The School of American Ballet, and The New York State Summer School of the Arts, and has her B.A. from Lesley University. Additionally, Darcy trained in modern dance and improvisation with members of Graham, Humphrey, and Tharp dance companies, and Janet Craft at Ipswich Moving Company. She is currently teaching ballet and modern dance at Great Bay Academy of Dance in Kittery, ME, and loves her job as stay-at-home mom to daughter, Calista.