Marianne Bassing grew up in Marin County California. She trained at Marin Dance Theatre in San Rafael, and finished her training in the Joffrey Trainee program in Chicago. Marianne began her professional career as an apprentice with the Dresden Semper Opera, performing works by director Aaron S. Watkins, and works by George Balanchine. She moved to the Estonian National Ballet as a Corps De Ballet dancer, under the directorship of Thomas Edur and Age Oaks, where she performed works by Tiit Härm, Ronald Hynd, Gyula Harangozó, Kenneth MacMillan, John Cranko, Ben Stevenson, Wayne McGregor, Robert Binet, as well as Thomas Edur. Marianne performed soloist roles in Thomas Edur and Jvgeni Neff’s La Bayadere, Wayne McGregor’s Symbiont(s), and Robert Binet’s Voces Intimae. Marianne joined Oakland Ballet upon returning to the U.S. and worked under Graham Lustig through 2020. Marianne’s resume includes many full-length classical ballets along with contemporary works by world renowned choreographers. She has just recently moved back to Chicago and is excited to return to the stage with The Ruth Page Center for the Arts for their Nutcracker this season.