Ballet RI

Ballet RI
Ballet RI
General information
Name	Ballet RI
Previous names	Festival Ballet Providence
Year founded	1978; 48 years ago
Website	balletri.org
Senior staff
Director	Kathleen Breen Combes
Other
Associated schools	School of Ballet RI

41°50′58″N 71°23′40″W / 41.84931°N 71.39440°W / 41.84931; -71.39440

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

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. Kathleen Breen Combes has been Director since 2021.

Leadership

Directors:

Mihailo Djuric, Artistic Director (1998-2020)
Kathleen Breen Combes Executive Director (beginning 2019), and Director (since 2021)

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)
Marissa Parmenter (2020-2023)
Sarah Lane (2023)
Christopher Anderson (2023-present)

References

↑ Amy Brandt (May 5, 2023). "Festival Ballet Providence Is Now Ballet Rhode Island". Pointe Magazine. Retrieved September 1, 2023.
↑ "Ballet Rhode Island". Visit Rhode Island. Retrieved 11 September 2019.
↑ "BWW Reviews: Festival Ballet's Exquisite NUTCRACKER a Christmastime Tradition". Broadway World. December 20, 2014. Retrieved September 9, 2020.
↑ "Performances". Ballet RI. Retrieved September 11, 2023.
1 2 "Festival Ballet director to bow out Sept. 1". Providence Journal. August 6, 2020. Retrieved September 9, 2020.
1 2 "Director – Festival Ballet Providence". Festival Ballet Providence. Retrieved 30 April 2023.
↑ Chava Lansky (June 7, 2019). "Kathleen Breen Combes on Retiring From Boston Ballet, and Her New Role at Festival Ballet Providence". Pointe Magazine. Retrieved 9 September 2019.
↑ Jennifer Stahl (May 29, 2019). "From Ballerina to Executive Director: Why Kathleen Breen Combes Wants to Be Behind the Scenes". Dance Magazine. Retrieved 9 September 2019.
↑ Emily Gowdey-Backus (September 7, 2018). "Putrius promoted from lead dancer to Festival Ballet Providence school director". Providence Business News. Retrieved 9 September 2019.
↑ "Marissa Parmenter - School Director". Ballet RI. Retrieved September 1, 2023.
↑ Kyra Laubacher (July 27, 2023). "Former ABT Principal Sarah Lane on Becoming the New School Director at Ballet Rhode Island". Pointe Magazine. Retrieved September 1, 2023.
↑ "Sarah Lane - School Director". Ballet RI. Retrieved September 1, 2023.
↑ "Who We Are". Ballet RI. Retrieved 2025-11-21.
↑ "Christopher Anderson". Ballet RI. Retrieved 2025-11-21.
↑ "Instagram". www.instagram.com. Retrieved 2025-11-21.

External links

Official website

[1] Amy Brandt (May 5, 2023). "Festival Ballet Providence Is Now Ballet Rhode Island". Pointe Magazine. Retrieved September 1, 2023.

[2] "Ballet Rhode Island". Visit Rhode Island. Retrieved 11 September 2019.

[3] "BWW Reviews: Festival Ballet's Exquisite NUTCRACKER a Christmastime Tradition". Broadway World. December 20, 2014. Retrieved September 9, 2020.

[4] "Performances". Ballet RI. Retrieved September 11, 2023.

[ProvJourn_Djuric-5] 1 2 "Festival Ballet director to bow out Sept. 1". Providence Journal. August 6, 2020. Retrieved September 9, 2020.

[FBP_director_page-6] 1 2 "Director – Festival Ballet Providence". Festival Ballet Providence. Retrieved 30 April 2023.

[KBC_pointe-7] Chava Lansky (June 7, 2019). "Kathleen Breen Combes on Retiring From Boston Ballet, and Her New Role at Festival Ballet Providence". Pointe Magazine. Retrieved 9 September 2019.

[8] Jennifer Stahl (May 29, 2019). "From Ballerina to Executive Director: Why Kathleen Breen Combes Wants to Be Behind the Scenes". Dance Magazine. Retrieved 9 September 2019.

[9] Emily Gowdey-Backus (September 7, 2018). "Putrius promoted from lead dancer to Festival Ballet Providence school director". Providence Business News. Retrieved 9 September 2019.

[10] "Marissa Parmenter - School Director". Ballet RI. Retrieved September 1, 2023.

[11] Kyra Laubacher (July 27, 2023). "Former ABT Principal Sarah Lane on Becoming the New School Director at Ballet Rhode Island". Pointe Magazine. Retrieved September 1, 2023.

[12] "Sarah Lane - School Director". Ballet RI. Retrieved September 1, 2023.

[13] "Who We Are". Ballet RI. Retrieved 2025-11-21.

[14] "Christopher Anderson". Ballet RI. Retrieved 2025-11-21.

[15] "Instagram". www.instagram.com. Retrieved 2025-11-21.