RIbt
  

 

 


Alumnae Perspectives

: Alexandra Bruzzese :: Francesca Bruzzese

:: Cheryl Cusick:: Erin Gildea

: Crystal Lamarche :: Magdalena Laws

::Kathryn McLaughlin :: Heather McNamee

:: Sarah Medeiros :: Marcia Newbert

:: Nellie Rainwater :: Crystal Rose

:: Monique Teves
Erin Gildea
Francesca
What have you been up to since RIbt? Please let us know what you are pursuing now. Are you still dancing?

After RIbt, I was a member of the junior company at Festival Ballet Providence for two years. The highlight there for me was dancing the role of Clara in the Nutcracker. In July of 03, I auditioned and was accepted as a full time boarding student at the Royal Winnipeg Ballet School in Manitoba, Canada.  I graduated from the University of Winnipeg’s Collegiate High School and was accepted to Butler University’s Jordan College of Fine Arts in Indianapolis, IN.  I am currently a senior Dance Pedagogy Major.  I am a member of Butler Ballet, which performs three major productions per year in addition to several studio performances.  This past December, I danced the role of the Snow Queen in the Butler Production and guested at Ballet Arkansas in the role of the Dew Drop Fairy. In February of 08 I performed in Cloven Kingdom with Butler Ballet, a Paul Taylor piece, which I really enjoyed.  A highlight of my college education was participating in two summer programs studying ballet in St.Petersburg, Russia and attended multiple ballet performances at the Mariinsky Theatre.  This summer I will be studying dance, touring and performing in Panama and Costa Rica with a small group from Butler Ballet.  After that, I will attend the summer program at Orlando Ballet for five weeks where I will also be employed as a Resident Assistant.  I plan to graduate from Butler in December of 08 and start to audition immediately.  Wish me luck!
 
What is your fondest memory of RIbt?

In addition to the amazing performance opportunities as a member of RIbt and the close friendships I made, one highlight for me would be the trips we made to Toronto to see the National Ballet of Canada perform and actually get a chance to meet principal dancer, Greta Hodgkinson. It was during these trips that I truly realized that all of the hard work and dedication in the studio could result in a career as a professional ballet dancer.

What are some of the lessons you learned from the RIbt experience?

First and foremost I learned the value of professionalism which I try carry through to all aspects of my dance training.
 
Do you have any advice for the young dancers at RIbt today?

Don’t get discouraged. It is not ever going to be easy but things that are worth it never are. I had a lot of struggles learning but I tried to be patient and continue to focus on my goals. If this is something that you really want, don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t do it.

Anything else you would like to add?

I want to thank Nancy so much for all of the instruction, patience, and life lessons that she instilled in me from the time I was six years old.  She is an amazing person who has dedicated herself to touching the lives of so many young dancers and passing on the passion for the art of ballet.