Thomas Vacanti began dancing at the age of nine and trained with the Festival Ballet of New York, Boston Ballet, and Skidmore College. He went on to perform with dance companies throughout the United States and Central America including Ballet Florida, Tampa Ballet, Colorado Ballet, Ballet Mississippi, Ballet Michigan, North Atlantic Ballet and the National Ballet of Panama. In 1991, Thomas was one of ten American dancers selected to participate in the Soviet/ American Exchange Program sponsored by Jacob’s Pillow (Becket, MA). In this program he toured extensively throughout Russia performing contemporary and classic repertory. In 2002, Thomas received his undergraduate degree in dance from Skidmore College and went on to complete his MFA in dance at Smith College in 2004. After graduation he was named Artistic Director of the Cape Cod Academy of Performing Arts for their 2004-05 season. Thomas has been on faculty at Amherst College, Smith College, Dean College, and is the current Artistic Director of the Pioneer Valley Ballet in Easthampton, MA.