Marissa Parmenter
School Director
[email protected]balletri.org

Dylan Giles
Marketing Director
[email protected]
401.654.6662

Heather Ahern
Institutional Advancement Manager
[email protected]balletri.org
[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

Office Manager
[email protected]

Official Healthcare Provider – University Orthopedics

Orthopedist – Paul Fadale, M.D.

Physical Therapist – Jennifer Davis

School Director

Marissa Parmenter

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.

July 31 – Aug. 5, 2023
Ages 16-22

The one-week Company Rep Workshop will give young professionals the opportunity to experience Ballet RI repertoire in a workshop setting. Classes will be taught by Ballet RI Artistic Staff and Faculty. Participants will work with Artistic Curator and Resident Choreographer Yury Yanowsky on choreography, receive coaching on classical repertoire, and experience the process of a new creation with a leading guest choreographer.

2023-2024 Ballet RI Trainees will be selected exclusively from the workshop.

Financial Aid is not available for this program. Scholarships awarded at the discretion of the directors.

Tuition Information

$750 Per participant

$650 per participant when also attending one week or more of SDI

Residential Information

Optional housing for Company Rep Workshop will be provided on the historic Rhode Island School of Design campus where participants will enjoy experiencing dorm life with their peers and exploring the Cultural Capital of Rhode Island.

OPTIONAL: Room and Board Information is as follows:

$700 per week per participant.

All residential CRW students will be housed together with a Resident Assistant who oversees their day-to-day experiences. Students will have access to bus transportation to the studio, on campus dining for breakfast and dinner, bagged lunch at the studio from a local hotspot, and 24-hour campus security.

Room and Board can be secured on a week-by-week basis. If the minimum number of resident students is not met, housing may need to be modified or canceled. All deposits are non-refundable.

We will no longer be requiring students to provide negative COVID-19 tests or vaccination records. In addition, we are adjusting our face mask policy from required to recommended. We will continue to monitor the progress of the pandemic, and should the need arise, we will adjust our protocols and policies.

For specific inquiries, contact the office at [email protected].

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.

Ballet RI is seeking a qualified Director of the School of Ballet RI to help train, develop, and inspire the next generation of dancers, dance educators, and dance supporters. This position is an essential administrative role and rounds out the senior leadership team, providing critical thought and support as Ballet RI launches into its exciting new chapter. The School Director of Ballet RI will work alongside other administrators to build and execute a strategic education plan, as well as oversee the continued growth and development of the school.

 POSITION OVERVIEW

The School of Ballet RI currently has over 300 students of all ages and features a robust and diverse curriculum. The School Director will envision, coordinate and supervise, in concert with the Director and Artistic Curator, all artistic facets of the School of Ballet RI. The right candidate will inspire students to develop a love for the art form by providing compassion within the instruction without compromising or lowering teaching standards. The School Director will be a role model, providing leadership and support for all efforts necessary to foster the continual growth and development of the School of Ballet RI in size, scope and efficacy.

Position: SCHOOL DIRECTOR­

Location: Providence, Rhode Island

Status: Full-time, Salaried, Exempt, Benefits Eligible

Salary: $60,000 – $65,000 annually

Start Date: Summer 2023

View Full Job Description

E-Mail Application

Thank you for your interest in Ballet RI.  Our talented resident company of dancers performing a wide range of repertoire with an emphasis on contemporary movement grounded in classical ballet technique. Ballet RI is a non-union ensemble company offering competitive 28+ week contracts.

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

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:
-Availability starting June 2022 and continuing through May of 2023.
– 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