BBT spotlights alumna Jessica (née Niemiec) Lighthart

As Boca Ballet Theatre celebrates its 35th Anniversary Season, we reflect on the many incredible dancers who have passed through our doors and gone on to impressive careers as performers, choreographers, teachers, arts advocates, and more. This month, we highlight BBT alumna Jessica Lighthart, née Niemiec, the Owner and Artistic Director of Ballet Academy of Charleston!

Jessica trained with BBT under the direction of Dan Guin and Jane Tyree, performing in many classical ballets including The Nutcracker, Swan Lake, Sleeping Beauty, Romeo and Juliet, Les Sylphides, Coppélia, and La Bayadère. “Looking back at my journey with BBT,” Jessica shared, “I realize what an impact Dan and Jane had in my life. They taught me so much more than ballet; I learned discipline, resilience, and how to push through challenges with grace. We were given the opportunity to share the stage with professional dancers and learn from amazing guest choreographers, and those experiences have shaped me into the ballet teacher I am today.”

A 2002 graduate of the College of Charleston majoring in Elementary Education, Jessica began teaching at Ballet Academy of Charleston in 2008 and, in March 2021, became its new owner and director. Since joining BAC, Jessica has completed the Bolshoi Ballet Academy Teacher Certification Program, the Ballet Conservatoire Classical Ballet Training and Examination, and her certification in Progressing Ballet Technique.

When asked to reflect on Boca Ballet Theatre’s impact on the South Florida artistic community, Jessica said, “From their cultural enrichment to educational opportunities, Dan and Jane have strived to engage the community from day one. They have taken their creativity, grown, and made lifelong connections. They are always inspiring the next generation and constantly evolving the ballet world.” She is especially grateful for the opportunity to teach at BBT while she was a student in high school, which sparked a passion that Jessica has carried forward to her position at the helm of Ballet Academy of Charleston.

We are so proud of Jessica and all that she has accomplished since she was a dancer at Boca Ballet Theatre! This anniversary season, we celebrate her legacy and the legacy of all the dancers who have called BBT home these past 35 years!