leadership
KATHLEEN BREEN COMBES
ARTISTIC EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Hailed by The New York Times as a “ballerina of colossal scale and boldness,” Kathleen Breen Combes enjoyed an illustrious career as Principal Dancer with Boston Ballet before taking the helm of Ballet RI. She has performed on the world’s most prestigious stages, and originated roles with choreographers such as William Forsythe and Jorma Elo. A Benois de la Danse nominee and Dance Magazine cover artist, her repertoire spans the classical and neoclassical canon and groundbreaking contemporary works. With degrees in Communications, Management, and Nonprofit Leadership, Breen Combes now blends artistic mastery with visionary leadership, building an innovative, inclusive, and world-class ballet company for Rhode Island and beyond.
YURY YANOWSKY
ARTISTIC CURATOR & RESIDENT CHOREOGRAPHER
Internationally renowned dancer and award-winning choreographer Yury Yanowsky spent over 20 years as a Principal Dancer with Boston Ballet, earning acclaim for his bravura technique, stage presence, and versatility across classical and contemporary works. Winner of the Prix de Lausanne and silver medals at the Varna and U.S. International Ballet Competitions, he has performed as a guest artist with The Royal Ballet, National Ballet of Prague, National Ballet of China, and Pennsylvania Ballet.
As a choreographer, Yanowsky has created acclaimed works for companies worldwide, including Boston Ballet, Atlanta Ballet, Tulsa Ballet, Richmond Ballet, Kansas City Ballet, and Bundes Jugend Ballet. He is the recipient of the Choreographic Prize at the prestigious Erik Bruhn Competition and his Smoke and Mirrors was named “Best in Dance” by The Arts Fuse. In 2021 his full-length Nutcracker for Ballet RI was hailed by The Boston Globe as “awe-inspiring.”
Currently Artistic Curator and Resident Choreographer at Ballet RI, Yanowsky is known for bold, collaborative works that resonate with today’s audiences.
ARTISTIC staff
COMPANY DANCERS
apprentices
trainees
Jordyn Chepolis, Edie Clarke, Alexis Dawson, Gina Deroma, Hayley Donahue, Parker Edmondson, Grace Ellis, Emma Halter, Elizabeth Jacobson, Leah Jenkins, Anneka Jones, Olivia Keith, Emma LeBlanc, Helen Rawls, Cameron Sedlack, Sophia Sparrow, Saba Tebutt