Boston Ballet Dancers Pursue Degrees Through Northeastern University Partnership

Boston Ballet has established a partnership with Northeastern University that provides dancers with significant educational opportunities while maintaining their performance careers. The collaboration offers an 80 percent tuition scholarship to company members who have completed at least one year with the ballet. Between 12 and 17 dancers participate in the program each semester, with most coursework conducted online to accommodate demanding rehearsal and performance schedules. Dancer Sage Humphries, currently a second soloist, is pursuing a master's degree in organizational leadership through the arrangement. She balances her ballet commitments with academic work, often studying between rehearsals and performances. Retired dancer Isaac Akiba spent nine years completing his degree at Northeastern during his ballet career and now works as a realtor, applying skills developed through his education. Northeastern's Academic Advisor & Partnership Liaison Ari Schaaff emphasizes the program's flexibility as essential for professional dancers. The initiative addresses the relatively short duration of dance careers by preparing performers for future professional transitions. Participants develop transferable skills from their stage experience that can be applied to other fields with appropriate communication strategies. The partnership represents an institutional effort to support dancers' long-term career development beyond their performing years.