Faculty

Garance Nienhuis, Founder & Artistic Director

Garance is passionate about teaching both dance and life skills, and she makes it a priority to build meaningful connections with every student who walks through the door. Her approach blends high-quality training with a nurturing, inclusive atmosphere where students of all ages can grow in confidence, artistry, and community.

In recognition of her dedication to youth, Garance received the Champion for Youth Award in December 2014, presented by the Coalition for the Advancement of Student Activities’ Student Leadership Training Program.

Garance began her dance training at age 8 with the Royal Academy of Dance in the Netherlands before immigrating to the United States in 1980. She studied under renowned teachers including Gretel van Bruggen, Herci Marsden, Patrick Notaro, and Donald Acevedo, and danced with the State Ballet of Rhode Island from 1985 to 1996—rising to the rank of principal dancer in 1994.

Her professional performance experience spans classical and contemporary work, including time with Sally Mayo & Company Dancers in Disport, appearances as a guest artist with Spindle City Ballet, and a featured role as the dancing double in the world premiere of Rage of the Heart.

Garance has taught dance throughout New England since 1989, including a role as Regional Director for Creative Dance for Children, where she brought creative movement into childcare centers across Rhode Island and Massachusetts. In 1997, she fulfilled a longtime dream by opening The Ballet Center in Bristol, RI. She has also served as a ballet substitute at Roger Williams University and as a board member of the Bristol Theater Company, where she choreographed productions of Evita and West Side Story.

Garance lives in Warren with her partner, Jesse and her daughter, Amelie.

Anneke St. Angelo, Assistant Director & Instructor

Anneke is The Ballet Center’s Assistant Director and lead instructor for Tap, Jazz, Hip Hop, and Acro. She began dancing at The Ballet Center at just 2.5 years old and has trained extensively in Ballet, Pointe, Jazz, Contemporary, Tap, and Hip Hop.

Anneke began as a class assistant in our Tiny Toes, Fancy Feet, and Young Children’s Hip Hop programs, later becoming a Junior Instructor in 2018. Since 2020, she has taught as a Senior Instructor, known for her high-energy, detail-oriented, and encouraging teaching style that helps dancers build both skill and confidence.

As Assistant Director, Anneke oversees our Summer Camps and coordinates student activities throughout the year, including spirit weeks, in-class celebrations, and our beloved studio challenges. She plays a key role in shaping the joyful, community-centered experience that defines The Ballet Center.

Anneke is also certified in Acro through Acrobatic Arts and continues to pursue ongoing training and education whenever possible. In addition to her work at The Ballet Center, she teaches at several studios across Southern New England.

Anneke is excited for another inspiring season and can’t wait to welcome both returning and new dancers into the studio!

Shane Farrell, Instructor

Shane Farrell is a Rhode Island native who received his early training at the Brae Crest School of Ballet, where he developed a strong foundation in classical technique and performed in most major full-length ballets.

His professional performance career includes ten seasons with Island Moving Company (IMC), where he toured both nationally and internationally. Highlights include performances at the World Expo in Astana, Kazakhstan in 2016 and 2017, as well as choreographing a large-scale flash mob in Almaty metro stations in collaboration with IMC, Samruk Dance, and the U.S. Consulate.

Shane’s work extends into film and television, with credits including MTV’s MADE, FOX’s So You Think You Can Dance, and the 2010 film Hachi.

As a choreographer, Shane has created five world premieres for IMC: Pheromone, Luminous, Queens Are Made of Distance and Greasepaint, Pavo Cristatus, and Black Moon Lilith, along with Jack and Jill from Mother Goose. His additional choreography credits include work for the America’s Junior Miss Pageant, Providence College, Wheaton College, and Salve Regina University.

At The Ballet Center, Shane brings his dynamic artistry and technical depth to our Advanced Ballet and Intermediate & Advanced Contemporary classes. His teaching style challenges dancers while inspiring them to explore both precision and expression.

Lisa Bibeau, Instructor

Ms. Bibeau, originally from Westport, MA, is a graduate of the prestigious Hartford Ballet Teacher Training Program, one of the most respected programs in the United States for certifying ballet instructors in the Vaganova syllabus.

Her extensive performance training includes work with master teachers from world-renowned institutions such as the Royal Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, Riga Ballet, Mariinsky Ballet, New York City Ballet, and Boston Ballet. She has also studied modern techniques including Graham, Cunningham, and Limon, as well as jazz with legendary artists like Jeanette Neill, Frank Hatchett, Gus Giordano, and Luigi.

Ms. Bibeau performed professionally with companies such as Hyannis Ballet, Island Moving Company (now Newport Contemporary Ballet), and Cape Ballet, dancing a wide range of classical and contemporary roles. Favorite principal performances include the title role in Cinderella and the Sugar Plum Fairy in The Nutcracker.

In 1987, she founded The Dance Academy, where she developed a successful pre-professional program, training students who went on to join major dance companies. In 1995, she established and served as Artistic Director of Spindle City Ballet, the South Coast’s only non-profit professional ballet company.

As a choreographer, Ms. Bibeau has received critical acclaim for both original and restaged works. Her full-length ballets include A Meadow Fantasy (based on Thornton Burgess’s Mother West Wind), Alice in Wonderland, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Cinderella, Hansel and Gretel, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, and The Princess and the Pea. She has also restaged timeless classics such as Coppélia, Giselle, and The Sleeping Beauty.

Renowned as a master teacher and coach, Ms. Bibeau is recognized nationally and internationally for her holistic teaching approach, deep knowledge of ballet theory, conditioning techniques, and ballet history.

In 2020, after much reflection and due to COVID-related challenges and family health concerns, Ms. Bibeau made the difficult decision to close her school and company. As she beautifully puts it, “When one door closes, a window opens.”

We are honored to have Ms. Bibeau on faculty at The Ballet Center, where she continues to share her remarkable passion, expertise, and artistry with the next generation of dancers.

Jennifer Cotoia, Instructor & STEPs Coordinator

Jen grew up in Bristol, RI, where she began ballet at age 7—right here at The Ballet Center with Garance. She danced and taught with Danceworks School of Dance for over 20 years, bringing both artistry and heart to every class.

She holds a B.A. in Elementary Education with a concentration in Special Education from Rhode Island College and currently teaches third grade in the Bristol school system. Jen has also served as coordinator for the Chance to Dance Program, expanding access to inclusive dance education. She is a graduate of the Dance Teachers Club of Boston’s Certification Program.

As our STEPs Coordinator, Jen mentors our student assistants, helping guide them as both dancers and leaders. She’s known for her supportive, encouraging teaching style and her commitment to helping dancers build confidence both in and out of the studio.

Jen has choreographed numerous competitive pieces, earning high scores and special judges’ awards, and she continues to share her passion in her Contemporary and Jazz classes. She also teaches in our Adult Division, leading Ballet, Tap, and Modern with warmth, humor, and great music.

Jen is especially proud to watch her own daughter step into our Shooting Stars level this fall!

Ellie Pinheiro, Junior Instructor, Social Media Manager & Front Desk

Raised in Bristol, RI, Ellie discovered her love for dance at The Ballet Center at just three years old—and has been immersed in the studio ever since. Over the years, she has trained in a wide variety of styles including ballet, tap, jazz, hip hop, and contemporary, with dance playing a central role in both her personal and professional growth.

Ellie joined our teaching staff as a Junior Instructor in the 2022–2023 season and now plays a key role behind the scenes as our Social Media and Office Manager. She oversees day-to-day administrative operations and leads our digital presence with creativity, consistency, and care.

Dedicated to continuing her education, Ellie has studied Young Dancer Fitness and Strength Training for Injury Prevention under respected instructors like Rhee Gold and Katie McGovern, and she is certified in Level 1 of the Building Blocks of Dance by Richard Elszy.

Outside the studio, Ellie is currently pursuing a B.A. in Communications and Media at Fisher College.

She’s proud to be part of The Ballet Center team and is excited to keep supporting the studio’s growth, both on and off the dance floor.

Diane Campagna, Permanent Guest Instructor

Growing up in Colorado, Diane studied tap, ballet, and jazz at Miller’s Dance Studio. She attended Brigham Young University and the University of Colorado at Boulder where she continued her dance training.

She started teaching in 1999 at Steppin’ Out Studio in Portsmouth, Rhode Island and has been a member of Dance Masters of America since 2001. Diane has choreographed and directed numerous productions for the Bristol Theater Company where she serves on the Board of Directors. Diane teaches Jazz, Tap and Ballet at The Ballet Center since 2007. Even though Diane has moved to Atlanta she remains a vital part of The Ballet Center!

Todd Hall, Permanent Guest Instructor

Todd has trained at the School of American Ballet in New York City, Joffrey Ballet School, and the School of the Boston Ballet.  He has performed with Boston Ballet and Washington Ballet and as a guest artist with a numerous American ballet companies. He has danced such roles as Albrecht in Giselle, the Prince in Swan Lake, the Cavalier in The Nutcracker, and Franz in Coppelia. Todd currently teaches and choreographs throughout the Northeast and overseas. Todd has been a guest instructor at The Ballet Center since 1997 working mostly with the advanced levels.