Andrea Parson

Andrea Parson began dancing in the late 1980s to country music records played in her family living room and at her mother’s aerobics classes. At the age of three, she began studio dance training in Hillsboro, Oregon, where she learned the basics. She began choreographing at a young age, making dances for friends and family, and often improvised down grocery store isles. With dreams of becoming a “serious dancer” Andrea furthered her studies at the Joffrey Ballet, San Francisco Conservatory of Dance, and Loyola Marymount University, where she received a BA in dance in 2009. After graduating she joined NW Dance Project in Portland, Oregon, where she received a Princess Grace Dance Fellowship award in 2010. For 11 years she performed nationally and internationally, as well as choreographed contemporary dance works for the company and students. Andrea greatly enjoyed dancing more dramatic roles such as Hedda Gabler and Carmen. A love of drama and storytelling led her to self-produce three dance theater pieces for live theater and film. She’s currently in residence with Portland-based organization, From the Ground Up, and creating a new solo autobiographical work, You Can’t Be Serious, that blends dance and stand-up comedy. She teaches and choreographs throughout the greater Portland area and is also on faculty at Pacific University. You can spot her on Instagram giving absurd mustache monologues, as well as walking her cat in its stroller.