Our faculty and artistic staff are talented and dedicated professionals with years of experience in teaching, choreography and performing.
Photo by Peter Pereira
Faculty
Rebecca Waskiel-Marchesseault | Artistic Director
Ms. Waskiel-Marchesseault began her training with the New Bedford Ballet in 1986. She continued her training at Walnut Hill School, Princeton Ballet School and Briansky Saratoga Ballet. In 1993, Rebecca entered Hartford Ballet's Certificate Program in Pedagogy where she received a Teaching Certificate in Ballet. Ms. Waskiel has danced with Hartford Ballet's Touring Ensemble, Connecticut Ballet, the Connecticut Opera Ballet and Lumiere Ballet.
In September of 1995, Ms. Waskiel joined the faculty of Hartford Ballet. She was the Co-Director of their Pre-Ballet Workshops and the Children's Coordinator and Rehearsal Director for Hartford Ballet's "Nutcracker". Ms. Waskiel also created and implemented an inner city afterschool dance curriculum for Hartford Public Schools. Ms. Waskiel joined the New Bedford Ballet faculty in September 2001 and Boston Ballet's faculty in 2001. In 2009, Ms. Waskiel took over as the Artistic Director of the New Bedford Ballet.
Eugenia Zinovieva | Ballet, Variations
Ms. Zinovieva was born in Moscow, Russia, and moved to the United States at a young age. She began her classical ballet training at the Boston Ballet School, where she studied for eight years while also competing as a rhythmic gymnast.
Her education was completed at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts under the artistic direction of Ethan Stiefel. She spent a year coaching with Sara Knight in New York City before coming to Festival Ballet Providence as a trainee. She is now a soloist with the full company. She supplemented her ballet education with summer programs at the Harid Conservatory, Boston Ballet, Milwaukee Ballet, and the Academie de Danse Princesse Grace in Monaco.
Ms. Zinovieva has previously been on faculty with Festival Ballet Providence, Wilmington Ballet Academy, and Northeast Rhythmic, as well as guest faculty at Carver Dance Center and Sally Gould Dance Center.
Pamela Mateus | Ballet, Modern, After School Dance Program
Ms. Mateus began dancing at the age of four at New Bedford Ballet. In addition to her own training, Ms. Mateus spent many years assisting in the classroom. Since then, Ms. Mateus has become an esteemed educator and choreographer, traveling to many studios, festivals and conventions. Her students and choreography are repeatedly recognized with Highest Overall Scores, Choreography Awards, Convention & College Scholarships, Regional and National Titles. Her work has been featured in a TED talk in addition to being chosen to be performed by the USA dance team at the World Dance Sport competition in Germany. Ms. Mateus strives to continuously push the boundaries that surround her movement, concepts and accolades, while always incorporating a great level of interpretation, inspiration, honesty and diversity.
Katherine Bickford | Ballet, Modern
Originally from Florida, Ms. Bickford was first introduced to dance at Dance Empire in Miami. She continued her training with the Portland School of Ballet in Maine, and then went on to graduate from Canada’s National Ballet School. Katherine has received additional training from summer intensives with San Francisco Ballet School, Houston Ballet Academy, Dominic Walsh’s Compass Coaching Project, and Springboard Danse Montreal. She earned her B.S. in Ecology and Environmental Science with a minor in dance from the University of Maine, while performing with Robinson Ballet and Bangor Ballet.
In 2015, Katherine joined Festival Ballet Providence. At Festival, she has enjoyed working with and performing pieces by choreographers such as Viktor Plotnikov, Kurt Douglas, Mary Ellen Beaudreau, Christopher L. Huggins, Mihailo Djuric, Yury Yanowsky, and George Balanchine. Throughout her college and dance career, Katherine has instructed ballet, pointe, modern, contemporary and group fitness classes. Katherine is currently on faculty with Festival Ballet Providence and instructs Barre fitness classes with Barre & Soul in Wayland Square (RI).
Charis Hall | Ballet
Ms. Hall began taking dance classes at the age of 5 at En L’air School for Dance, and later on furthered her training at The Dance Academy, home of the Spindle City Ballet. During the 2017-2018 season, she performed as a member of Fusionworks II, a modern dance junior company.
In 2022, Charis graduated from Muhlenberg College with a B.S. in Mathematics and Dance, with a concentration in choreography. While at Muhlenberg, she had the opportunity to work with choreographers such as Earl Mosley, Heidi Cruz-Austin, and Monica Bill Barnes. She also choreographed several original works for the Muhlenberg stage, in addition to directing and editing her own dance film that went on to be screened at an American College Dance Association regional conference.
“I would like to thank my teachers for their support and genuine care. I appreciate their willingness to share their knowledge and experience from being professional dancers.”
— Olivia Quintin, New Bedford Ballet graduate