ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT: Haley Desjarlais

Haley Desjarlais was born in Boston, Massachusetts. She began her ballet training in 2010 at the Franklin School for the Performing Arts in Franklin, MA under Cheryl Madeux Abbott. In 2017, Haley was accepted into Boston Ballet’s Pre-Professional program under the direction of Margaret Tracey. She remained in the Pre-Professional division for two years and was then promoted to a Trainee for one year. During these years she attended summer programs at American Ballet Theater, Miami City Ballet, Boston Ballet, Pacific Northwest Ballet, and BalletMet. While a Trainee with Boston Ballet, she had the opportunity to perform in Mikko Nissinen’s The Nutcracker. She also took part in Boston Ballet School’s end of the year performance, Next Generation, where she performed in August Bournonville’s La Konservatoriet and Igor Burlak’s Double Concerto. In 2020 she had the opportunity to attend The Prix De Lausanne as a part of their Partner Schools Choreographic Project. She worked with Mauro Bigonzetti and performed his work titled Adante Ballabile. In 2020, Haley also joined BalletMet as a Trainee under the direction of Maria Torija. She has performed with the company in Gerard Charles’ The Nutcracker and Edwaard Liang’s Giselle. She has also performed in the classical ballet productions of Sleeping Beauty and Coppelia, as well as George Balanchine’s Western Symphony in Trainee performances. After two years with BalletMet, Haley is now joining Indianapolis Ballet as an apprentice for the 2022-2023 season.

Haley is now an apprentice with City Ballet of San Diego in 2023!