RIbt
  

 

 

Monique in Moscow


Alumnae Perspectives

: Alexandra Bruzzese :: Francesca Bruzzese

:: Chery Cusick :: Erin Gildea

: Crystal Lamarche :: Magdalena Laws

::Kathryn McLaughlin :: Heather McNamee

:: Sarah Medeiros :: Marcia Newbert

:: Nellie Rainwater :: Crystal Rose

:: Monique Teves
Monique Teves
Monique Teves

What have you been up to since RIBT? Please let us know what you are pursuing now. Are you still dancing?


After leaving Rhode Island's ballet theatre I intended to continue dancing, but instead decided to explore my interest in some of the other fine arts that dancing had helped to pique. Since RIbt, I earned my high school diploma at Tiverton High School with a 4.017 GPA.  There I served in several leadership roles, including Yearbook Editor-in-Chief, President of Drama Club (also choreographer for several shows), and Chorus Vice-President.  I participated in RI All-State Chorus for two years and received a RI All-State Theatre Outstanding Actor award.  I then went to Providence College on an academic scholarship where I served as a Resident Assistant and co-founded the PC chapter of the national political organization Democracy Matters. I also pursued my interest in creative writing and was awarded first place for verse poetry in the PC Student Poetry & Fiction contest. In 2007, I graduated summa cum laude and earned a BA in Music Education with a concentration in Voice (mezzo-soprano). While there I sang in several select ensembles, including the Providence College Touring Choir. In May 2007, we toured St. Petersburg and Moscow as cultural ambassadors in the 200-year anniversary of Russia-US relations. I am currently the middle school choral director and an elementary general music teacher in the public school system of Stoughton, Massachusetts.

 

What is your fondest memory of RIBT?


 My fondest memories of RIbt are the performances and master classes.  Though now a vocalist, my first experience with performance art was through dancing.

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


 Some lessons I learned from my RIbt experience include the importance of teamwork.  This has been essential in my participation in and conducting of choirs, where teamwork is also necessary to create art.  It also helped me to understand the impact a fine-arts education can have on shaping the character of a young person.  

Do you have any advice for the young dancers at RIBT today?


 I would tell the young dancers of RIbt today to continue to follow their passions and take the time to explore all of their interests, wherever they may lead.