Adriane Brayton, Artistic Director

Born in Boston, Adriane Brayton attended the Boston Arts Academy and Connecticut College where she performed the works of Jose Limon, Pedro Ruiz, Nathan Trice, Paul Taylor, Twyla Tharp, Nicholas Leichter, Colleen Thomas, Laura Dean, David Dorfman, Lisa Race, Heidi Henderson, Shani Collins, and Kyle Abraham. Her work has been performed in the This/that show (Cambridge MA), at Emerson College (Boston, MA), Bates Dance Festival (Lewiston, ME), The Sanctuary Theater (Cambridge, MA), Tufts University (Medford, MA), Third Life Studios (Somerville, MA), The Museum of Science (Boston, MA), The Dance Complex (Cambridge, MA), Green Street Studios (Cambridge, MA), and Boston University (Boston, MA). After graduating in 2011 with BAs in Dance and Biological Sciences, Adriane moved to Boston to follow her passion for dance and choreography. She recently became a Licensed Massage Therapist (LMT). Adriane is currently a second year guest artist for the Expansive Meanings and Makings in Art Science Project created by the TERC Organization in partnership with the Broad Institute funded by The National Science Foundation.

Elizabeth Epsen

Originally from Tucson, AZ, Elizabeth Epsen received her training at the San Francisco Ballet School (professional division), where she also performed in corps de ballet roles with the San Francisco Ballet. She attended a year-round program at Canada’s National Ballet School as well as summer programs at the School of American Ballet, Pacific Northwest Ballet School, and Exploring Ballet with Suzanne Farrell at the Kennedy Center, among others. As a dancer in the Boston area, Elizabeth has performed works by New England-based choreographers including Adriane Brayton, Adrienne Hawkins, and James Morrow, and is currently working with Nicole Pierce, choreographer/founding artistic director of EgoArt, Inc. Elizabeth regularly collaborates with the Boston-based saxophone and viola duo patchtax to create and perform dances that play with live performance, video, and the relationships between dancer and musician. Elizabeth graduated from Creighton University with a B.A. in Philosophy and Art History. She has additionally made a career in arts administration and currently works as Program Assistant for Dance at Harvard University.

Mayra Hernandez

Mayra Hernandez was born and raised in Boston where she began dancing at young age. Mayra’s training led her to Boston Arts Academy where her growth as an artist started and further continued at Smith College, graduating with a B.A. in Dance and Sociology. Mayra returned to Boston after graduation and began her professional dance career as a member of Fly by Night Dance Theatre, an aerial dance company based in NY. She also was a member of BoSoma Dance Company, Throughout Mayra’s dance career she has had the opportunity to work with world renown choreographers such as Paul Taylor, Mark Morris, David Parsons, Ronald K. Brown, David Dorfman and Rosangela Silvestre. When not rehearsing with Continuum Dance Project, Mayra can be found teaching dance at Brookline High School and coordinating the Alumni Creative Corps Teaching-Artist Residency Program at the Center for Arts in Education at Boston Arts Academy. Mayra is very excited to continue to work with Brayton Dance.

Grant Jacoby

Grant Jacoby, was born and raised in Wellesley, Massachusetts, where he began his dance training at the Kathy McCrohon Dance Center and as a featured dancer in numerous musicals. Grant graduated Magna Cum Laude from Connecticut College in 2013, where he received his BA in Dance and Theater and had the pleasure of working with such distinguished artists such as David Dorfman, Lisa Race, Heidi Henderson, and Adele Myers. He also studied at Trinity/La MaMa Urban Arts Semester, Bates Dance Festival, MADE in France, and Movement Workshop Group’s Graham Intensive. He has been a company member of Lorraine Chapman The Company, Quicksilver Dance, and Brayton Dance, and has performed in works by Mark Dendy, Annie Kloppenberg, Lauren Simpson, Danny Swain, Rachel Pritzlaff, Ayano Elson, Chris McMilllan, Audrey MacLean & Katie McGrail. He formed his own company, Grant Jacoby & Dancers, in 2013, and has presented work at La MaMa ETC, Triskelion Arts, The Dance Complex (Boston Globe Critics Pick 2014 & 2015), Green Street Studios, Les Champs Melisey, Boston University, AS220, Dance For World Community, Artbeat, Third Life Studios, RAW Boston (2014 Performer of the Year), and The International Festival of Arts & Ideas. Aside from his company work, he has also set pieces at Babson College, Endicott College and OnStage Dance Company, and has choreographed musicals at The Roxbury Latin School, Next Door Theater, Spotlight Productions, North End Music & Performing Arts Center, and premiere workshop and production of Friday the 13th: The Musical.  As a teacher, he has been on faculty at Boston Ballet, The Boston Conservatory, Sereda DanceWorks, and Brookline Academy of Dance.

Mary Ellen Liacos

A New Hampshire native, Mary Ellen Liacos moved to Boston in high school to pursue her dance career. She attended and trained at Boston Arts Academy and The Boston Conservatory. She has been fortunate enough to have studied with extraordinary dance educators such as Diane Arvanites, Olivier Besson, Fernadina Chan, Leslie Koval, Daniel McCusker, William McLaughlin, Tommy Neblett, Sheryl Pollard-Thomas, Jennifer Scanlon, Donna Silva, Adriana Suarez, Jimmy Vierra, and Leslie Woodies. She feels honored to have been featured in works by choreographers such as Pedro Ruiz, and Nathan Trice. Mary Ellen graduated from UMASS Boston with a degree in Women’s and Gender Studies and has been recognized for her work in arts and social activism. She currently works with several non-profits in Boston that raise social consciousness and bring about communal awareness through arts education for youth such as La Pinata of Spontaneous Celebrations, The Hoop Suite Project and Hyde Square Task Force. Mary Ellen presently works in Boston Public Schools teaching dance and creative movement. Mary Ellen is grateful to be working and dancing for Anna Myer and Dancers, Continuum Dance Project and Brayton Dance.

Jennifer Roberts

Jennifer Roberts is a graduate of Mount Holyoke College where she began her formal training in dance. Thanks to the brilliant faculty of the Five College Dance Department, she’s encountered many forms of dance and the different pedagogies for engaging and teaching non-traditional movers. In addition to performing, she has been awarded grants to pursue her independent work in dance and liturgy. Recently, Jennifer has had the honor of performing for the Boston based companies Quicksilver Dance, Grant Jacoby and Dancers, and Angie Moon Dance Theater. When not in the studio, Jennifer can be found indulging in good fiction, good food, or a good nap.