Ballet RI

41.84931°N 71.39440°W / 41.84931; -71.39440

Ballet RI
General information
Name	Ballet RI
Previous names	Festival Ballet Providence
Year founded	1978; 47 years ago (1978)
Website	balletri.org
Senior staff
Director	Kathleen Breen Combes
Other
Associated schools	School of Ballet RI

Ballet Rhode Island (Ballet RI), formerly known as "Festival Ballet Providence",^[1] is a ballet company located in Providence, Rhode Island, United States.^[2][3] Ballet RI performs at the Veterans Memorial Auditorium, Moses Brown School's Woodman Center, and their own Black Box Theatre.^[4]

History

The company was founded in 1978 by Christine Hennessey and Winthrop Corey (1945-2023), former principal dancers with the Royal Winnipeg Ballet. After the death of Hennessey in 1998, Mihailo Djuric took over as Artistic Director, and led the company until 2020.^[5] Kathleen Breen Combes has been Director since 2021.^[6]

Leadership

Directors:

• Mihailo Djuric, Artistic Director (1998-2020)^[5]
• Kathleen Breen Combes Executive Director (beginning 2019),^[7][8] and Director (since 2021)^[6]

Ballet RI also runs the School of Ballet RI (formerly Festival Ballet Providence School). School directors:

• Mary Ann Mayer (2004-2018)
• Vilia Putrius (2018-2020)^[9]
• Marissa Parmenter (2020-2023)^[10]
• Sarah Lane (from September 2023)^[11][12]