Ryan Parent was born in rural Minnesota and began dancing at the early age of five. His passion for movement was nurtured in his youth as a proud member of The Basement Boys, a trailblazing dance group led by Wendy DeGeest with the empowering mission of showing the world that boys can dance. He refined his artistry during his high school years at the Perpich Center for Arts Education Dance Program, directed by Mary Harding and Tom Kanthak, a formative experience that deepened his creative voice.
In 2009, Ryan relocated to Austin, Texas, where he quickly immersed himself in the local dance community, beginning his studies at Austin Community College under the mentorship of Darla Johnson while also dancing with Kathy Dunn Hamrick Dance Company. Since then, he has performed with several notable dance companies in both MInneapolis, MN and Austin, TX– Lisa Nicks and her Band of Wild Ponies, Christopher Watson Dance Company, and Toni Bravo’s Diverse Space Dance Theatre. His choreography has been featured several times in the Zenon Scholarship Dance Program in Minneapolis as well as Dances on the Lakes, a Minnesotan dance festival. He has found a creative homeplace in both cities, Minneapolis and Austin– a true tale of two cities.
Ryan’s mission is to form meaningful connections using modern dance as the catalyst. His intentions reflect a lifelong dedication to pushing boundaries, building community, and celebrating the transformative power of dancemaking. Last year marked the beginning of Ryan holding a weekly modern dance class to help grow a more robust dance connection among Austinites.
Ryan Parent’s work, “Threaded Lines” will be presented at Small Plates Austin 2025.
Instagram: @ryanparent7
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ryanmparent
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