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.
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.
Sara Brownell | Ballet, Variations
Ms. Brownell is a Rhode Island based dancer and educator. She received her early training at Connecticut Concert Ballet and later earned her B.F.A. in Dance from Mercyhurst University. Sara has danced professionally with Ballet RI (formerly Festival Ballet Providence), FioDanz, Freedom Dances, Lake Erie Ballet, and dancEnlight. Career highlights include: George Balanchine’s Serenade, Hungarian Dancer in Swan Lake staged by Milica Bijelic, and the titular character in Chère Mémère by Nicole Laliberté. Sara has a passion for teaching ballet to students of all ages and incorporates a variety of techniques into her practice.
Lauren Sylvia | Ballet
Ms. Sylvia started ballet when she was five years old at the YMCA before becoming a scholarship student at Festival Ballet Providence at the age of nine. She joined the junior company at the age of 13 and performed alongside professionals as Clara, snow and flower corps in the Nutcracker, swan corps in Swan Lake, one of two dancers in Victor Plotnikov’s duet Just One Kiss, and a willi in Giselle as well as many other roles and performances.
Lauren placed top 12 in the YAGP contemporary semi finals in 2010, and attended summer programs on scholarship at CPYB and Chautauqua. She joined the professional company FBP after graduation. Her favorite role during that time was the Canary Fairy from Sleeping Beauty.
Lauren then freelanced starting in the fall of 2014 and took part in many contemporary dance projects and performances, one being at Jacob's Pillow on the outdoor stage with the Berkshire Choreography Project. She has been performing in various styles in the Boston area and also has danced (and continues to dance) the lead in many ballet productions under Cosmin Marculetiu, her favorite role being Giselle.
Lauren is excited to be at New Bedford Ballet to share her love of ballet with her students!
Charis Hall | Ballet
Ms. Hall began taking dance classes at the age of five 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.
Sadie Marchesseault | Ballet
Ms. Marchesseault began her training with the New Bedford Ballet at the age of three and is a 2021 alumni of the school. Her love for teaching ballet began at a young age when she would act as a student assistant in the younger classes. She began her career with the New Bedford Ballet as a substitute teacher post-graduation and then accepted the role as a part-time teacher of the Alma Del Mar School Grant Program in January 2023. In addition, Ms. Marchesseault is studying to be an Elementary Education and Special Education teacher at Bridgewater State University. Ms. Marchesseault looks forward to further developing curriculum and working with her students.
“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