Endicott College Alumni Dance to Success

When asked what do the Boston Celtics and the New England Patriots have in common with Monkeyhouse? Nicole Sao Pedro-Welch, Coordinator of Dance at Endicott, enthusiastically replied, “They have recently hired Endicott College dance alumni!”

Cara Desjarlais, Karen Link, Samantha Mullen, and Brianna Unsworth, all recent graduates of Endicott College, and very active in the dance program have landed professional dance appointments in the Boston area. Cara Desjarlais made the 2014-2015 Celtics Dance Team; Karen Link recently made the Patriots Cheerleading team for the 2014-2015 season; and Samantha Mullen and Brianna Unsworth were both invited to be members of Monkeyhouse, a non-profit professional dance company.

The Dance Program at Endicott College enables students to become reflective, articulate individuals, and to find their creative voice as they study within a nurturing liberal arts atmosphere. Endicott’s dance program prepares students for the multifaceted world of dance; teaches concepts for exploration and development that promote creativity; and cultivates students’ artistic selves. Students learn techniques in Ballet, Modern, Contemporary, and many other genres. In addition to course offerings, the students have exposure to all areas of performing arts, internships, multiple workshops, and performance opportunities. The Endicott College Dance Team is a regionally and nationally ranked team that provides dancers the opportunity to perform at Football and Basketball games, as well as compete at the college level.

Cara Desjarlais ‘12 graduated with a B.A. in Liberal Studies, was a dancer in the performing arts department, and a member of the Endicott Dance Team for 3 years. Cara said, “Being a part of the Endicott dance team and the Performing Arts Department played a huge factor in my success of becoming a Celtics dancer. My coach and professor, Nikki Sao Pedro-Welch, always pushed me to bring out the best in my dance ability and throughout my four years, I saw my technique, ability to pick up choreography, and performance quality improve.”

Karen Link ‘12 graduated with a B.S. in Communication and a minor in Hospitality. She was an active member of the Repertory Dance Ensemble and a member of the Endicott Dance Team. “I experienced a well-rounded growth in my abilities from the dance program and Dance Team which fully prepared me to dance professionally post-college. I’m so grateful to Nikki for her direction, guidance, and friendship throughout my college career,” Karen said last week.

Samantha Mullen ‘13 graduated with a B.S. in Business Administration with a concentration in International Studies, and minors in both Dance and Psychology. She graduated with her MBA from Endicott College in 2014. Samantha was a member of the Endicott Dance Team for 4 years and an active member in the Performing Arts Department. Samantha said, “Through the assorted classes in the program, I was able to find my passion for dance and confidence to continue on into a professional career. The dance team provided constant support, performance opportunities throughout the year, and the ability to compete nationally with phenomenal dancers. Without continuing my dance career at Endicott, I would not have been able to have the opportunity to dance with Monkeyhouse.”

Brianna Unsworth ‘13 graduated with a B.S. in Interior Design with a minor in Dance; and recently completed her M.A. in Interior Architecture. Brianna was a member of the Endicott Dance Team for 4 years and an active member in the Performing Arts Department. Brianna said, “ The dance program and team taught be how to be a versatile dancer. The team gave me structure, and pushed me to be a better person by understanding what it means to be a teammate. The dance program allowed me to express my individuality and made me a smarter dancer. I feel both of these experiences prepared me for dance company work.”

Nicole Sao Pedro-Welch is the Coordinator of Dance, and head coach of the Endicott Dance Team at Endicott College. She is also the professor for several dance courses within the Performing Arts Department, and the choreographer for both the Repertory Dance Ensemble and Mainstage Musical Productions. Nicole earned her Masters of Education in Arts and Learning from Endicott College, her Bachelor of Arts degree in Dance from Point Park University, and is currently working on her MFA in Interdisciplinary Arts from Goddard College. Nicole has performed with many dance companies and organizations including, Danny Swain Dance Company of Boston, MA, The Boston Celtics Dance Team, and is currently dancing for, Monkeyhouse, and Quicksilver Dance of Boston, MA. Lastly, Nicole’s achievements for the Dance Team include, six regional titles from the New England Dance Championships Collegiate Competition, placement of 6th, 8th, 14th, and 15th in the nation in at the National Dance Team Championship, in Orlando, Florida.

Endicott College students have opportunities to explore their interests in dance, music and theatre. The School of Visual and Performing Arts sponsors the Jazz Band, Dance Ensemble, Endicott Singers, the student a cappella group ECHO, Rock Band, and the Chamber Ensemble. Furthermore the School maintains special relationships with the Boston Ballet, Boston Children’s Theatre and Symphony by the Sea.

The Walter J. Manninen Center for the Arts supports a variety of studies and performance venues with facilities that include: a 250-seat recital hall with professional quality acoustics; a 100-seat black box theatre for drama, dance, technical theatre workshops and performances; a museum quality art gallery for visiting art exhibits, gallery talks and community shows; a student art gallery; separate painting, photography, printmaking, ceramics, and woodshop studios; Macintosh computer labs for graphic design and visual communications; music and drama practice and rehearsal rooms; a shooting studio for photography; and lounges with facilities for public receptions.

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