Sarah Lane
School Director
[email protected]

Dylan Giles
Marketing Director
[email protected]
401.654.6662

Development Office
[email protected]
401.432.6064

Lisa McGuirk
Registrar – School of Ballet RI
[email protected]
401.353.2252

Valerie Cookson-Botto
Director of Community Engagement
[email protected]
401.490.5631

Felipe Puletini
Company Manager
[email protected]

Office Manager
[email protected]

Official Healthcare Provider – University Orthopedics

Orthopedist – Paul Fadale, M.D.

Physical Therapist – Jennifer Davis

School Director

Sarah Lane

CORE BALLET PROGRAM 

• Christopher Anderson
• Sara Brownell
• Sarah Cerulo
• Kathleen Breen Combes
• Leticia Guerrero
• Alex Lantz
• Chu Ling
• Brittany Lombardi
• Tara Mccally
• Nita Trivedi
• Yury Yanowsky

YOUNG CHILDREN’S PROGRAM

• Sara Brownell
• Valerie Cookson-Botto
• Brenna Zgodić
• Dušica Ilkić Vesković
• Audrey Lukacz
• Katey Tidwell

OPEN, ADAPTIVE, & ADULT PROGRAMS

• Katherine Bickford
• Sara Brownell
• Dušica Ilkić Vesković
• Lea Marie D’arminio
• Erin Muccino
• Joshua Tuason

GUEST FACULTY

• Julia Feeley
• Taavon Gamble
• Jessica Pearson
• Dina Ternullo Melley
• Zenaida Yanowsky

Originally named Festival Ballet of Rhode Island (FBRI), Ballet RI was founded in 1978 by two former Royal Winnipeg Ballet Principal Dancers, prima ballerina Christine Hennessey and her partner Winthrop Corey. The pair led FBRI for almost 20 years, establishing it as a force in the New England dance community and one of the strongest regional companies in the country.  Hennessey led FBRI until her untimely death in 1997, when her daughter Elizabeth (a leading dancer in the company for many years) acted as Interim Artistic Director.  

In 1998, choreographer and dancer Mihailo “Misha” Djuric was selected to direct the Company.  With his ambitious vision, FBRI broadened audiences, diversified its repertory, and incorporated an unprecedented number of emerging choreographers.  In addition, Djuric’s tenure brought about international touring of the professional company, a relocation to Providence’s historic East Side, the creation of a new “Black Box Theatre,” and a name change to Festival Ballet Providence.  

In 2019, a year before announcing his retirement, Djuric played a central role in bringing in the then principal dancer with Boston Ballet, Kathleen Breen Combes, as its new Executive Director. In 2020 Breen Combes was appointed Director by the Board of Trustees, and Yury Yanowsky, also a dancer and choreographer from Boston Ballet, as its new Artistic Curator and Resident Choreographer.

Experience Ballet RI repertoire in a workshop setting.

2024 Information Coming Soon

BALLET RI serves diverse communities in Rhode Island by uplifting the spirit of underserved populations and amplifying the voices of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color. 

• We use the power of art and its impact on culture and community to impact positive change.
• We uphold equity and recognize that our work begins with accountability.
• Our school and community engagement programs embrace differences and impart the transformative power of dance in a manner that encourages a safe and creative space for all.
• We embrace cultural, social, economic and religious differences enriching the dance experience while providing guidance to our artistic output, education, dress codes and staff etiquette.
• We present a diverse repertoire on stage and engage the unique voices of tomorrow to continue the reimagination of our art form.
• We are committed to diversifying our employees, artists, board, students, and audience to better reflect the communities we serve.

ProviDANCE after-school program for second graders is focused around beginning ballet technique, storytelling through dance and dance improvisation. Through these content areas, students will build a wide range of physical, mental, social and emotional skills over an entire school year. Students will increase their movement awareness, developing greater strengths, flexibility, coordination and expression. The program involves 2 after school classes per week, plus an additional class at either Ballet RI or Jacqueline Walsh HS for the Arts for select students inclusive of transportation and ballet uniforms. The ProviDANCE program provides a graduated pathway to the profession of dance for marginalized populations.

Position: ProviDANCE Teacher(s)

Dates: Tuesdays and Thursdays 3:30-5:30pm October – June; additionally assist Academy class Monday or Wednesdays after school.

Pay rate: $20-$40/hour

Locations: Providence and Pawtucket, Rhode Island

Skills/Experience Required

• Dance teaching experience working with elementary age students.
• Understanding of beginning ballet pedagogy.
• Experience working in diverse communities and/or public school settings.
• Experience with restorative practices preferred.
• Spanish proficiency a plus.

Responsibilities

• Support the program in creating a safe learning environment that fosters positive social and emotional development and model professionalism as a mentor and educator.
• Report any incidents that are in conflict with Ballet RI code of conduct or impedes a safe and supportive learning environment.
• Facilitate after-school transition with tasks such as dance space set up; possibly including sound equipment, moving small chairs or desks, taking attendance.
• Teach 2 after school classes per week (Tuesdays) and (Thursdays) arriving at the school at 3:30 to gather students for a 4-5:00 class.
• Oversee and coordinate work with teaching assistant for the Tuesday/Thursday classes.
• Evaluate student performance in class making recommendations for the ProviDANCE Academy program.
• Choreograph and coordinate the end of school year performance with the Pawtucket ProviDANCE after-school Tuesday/Thursday classes at each school.
• Contribute to a strong productive working relationship with elementary school community including teachers, staff and parents.
• Contribute to the Ballet Rhode Island team by maintaining communication with other departments and supporting the needs of the Pawtucket ProviDANCE program.
• Work with the Director of Community Engagement to meet the program curriculum and enrollment goals, reporting areas of need or program challenges as they arise.
• Mentor students providing social, emotional, and academic support as needed.
• Maintain a high level of professionalism and flexibility.
• Follow all COVID protocols for public schools and Ballet Rhode Island.
• Assistant the Academy class on Wednesdays (4-5pm) or Mondays (4:30-5:30PM) starting in January.
• Assist coordinating uniform and costume sizing for Academy students and distributing t-shirts, socks and water bottles to Tues/Thursday ProviDANCE students.

The ProviDANCE Teacher will be paid at a rate of $40/hr for the class time per class per day. Hours that are beyond the amount needed for generating class content, and result from administrative duties such as meetings, uniform coordination and communications are paid at an administrative rate of $20/hr but not to exceed 2 hours per week. Additionally, the Academy Assistant rate of $20/hr will be allocated to the time supporting the Academy classes on Mondays or Wednesdays.  Classes are subject to cancellation due to school closings including weather or other unforeseen circumstances.

E-Mail Application

Ballet RI and United Way of Rhode Island announce a new program aimed at increasing access to dance education for Providence elementary students. Ballet RI is seeking a part-time driver who will be an integral part of the overall ProviDANCE program and mission.

As part of our mission to make dance accessible to the communities this program serves, the driver’s role is to safely deliver students both to our Providence studios for dance class and back to their schools at the end of the day. The small 14 passenger bus will live at our Hope St. studios, where the driver will take the bus to both elementary schools in Olneyville to pick up the students and bring them back to take class. At the end of class, driver will return the students to their schools to be picked up by their parents. A bus monitor/dance teacher will be there to assist with this process. Cleaning the bus per COVID-19 safety protocols before student pick-up and after drop-off will be required.

Requirements:

–Immediate availability (after-school hours 3:15pm-7:15pm) through May of 2024.
– Chauffeur’s license, or ability to obtain one – NO CDL REQUIRED
– Possess a clean driving record
– Can pass a Federal background check
– Must have been vaccinated for COVID-19

E-Mail Application

Ballet RI is seeking part-time musicians with advanced level piano skills who are prompt, responsible, and interested in collaborating with teachers and students to accompany classical ballet classes. Applicants should be strongly committed to excellence.

Ballet RI values a diverse workplace and strongly encourages Black/Brown, Indigenous, and other People of Color to apply.

Skills/Requirements

– Advanced level piano skills, with preference given to classical training.
– Previous experience playing for ballet technique/pointe classes is recommended.
– Knowledge of ballet terms/repertoire is preferred and ability to improvise is required.
– Experience providing and maintaining a professional studio and performance atmosphere within the classroom.
– Ability to provide inspirational accompaniment for dance classes.
– Ability to work with teachers in a wide variety of styles and rhythms.
– Prior experience or a wide range of repertoire necessary.
– Willing to work with others, flexible, and creatives.
– Having a book and/or repertoire already compiled strongly recommended.

Academic Credentials: We will evaluate your level of experience and education. An audition is required. Some training provided. Benefits include free tickets to Ballet RI performances.

SUMMARY: Interns gain valuable administrative experience, working within an active and vibrant nonprofit setting, assisting staff and interacting with clients and customers. Interns are an important part of the organization, working closely with staff in the following departments: Administration (Database and file organization) Development (Donor engagement and management, fundraising projects) Marketing and Box Office, (Ticketing and subscriber management), School of Ballet RI (Client file management, scheduling and communication), Production Tasks (Backstage and front of house production duties).

HOURS: Interns typically work 15-20 hours per week and are eligible to receive college credit.

SESSIONS: Currently recruiting for all terms (Fall, Spring, Summer)

Please send resume and cover letter to [email protected].

E-Mail Application

SUMMARY: Ballet RI is offering learning opportunities to eligible college students. This internship provides an opportunity for students to shadow Ballet RI Outreach Educators for 9 weeks. This will provide the dance education interns additional experience teaching dance in a public-school setting, and prepare the interns for hiring and placement in future classes.

The intention of the program is to build skills students interested in teaching dance in a public-school setting through shadowing an Ballet RI Outreach Educator. The internship is not a paid position but can be applied for credit (student is responsible for organizing required enrollments, paperwork, etc. in order to receive credit). Students who successfully complete the internship program will be eligible to apply for a paid teaching position in Ballet RI’s Outreach Education program during the following session.

REQUIREMENTS
• Letter of Recommendation
• Interview by Valerie Cookson-Botto, Director of Community Engagement for Ballet RI
• Transportation to and from outreach school locations
• Participation in no less than one hour a week for 9 weeks at a Ballet RI outreach education program
• Students 18 years or older will be required to complete a BCI through the Attorney General’s Office

Thank you for your interest in Ballet RI. Please check this page for future information about company auditions.