Faculty/Staff | Dance Theatre of RI

Jennifer Vecchio

Artistic Director

Opening her business in 1989 she followed a dream and has never looked back. She has built her studio on her reputation of hard work, commitment and determination. Her dance focus is ballet having been a principle dancer for the State Ballet during her dance career.

Bridget Wilson

Assistant Director

As daughter of the Artistic Director, Miss Bridget has danced for nearly as long as he has been alive. She works with little stars, minis all throughout the season while assisting in choreography and rehearsals. Her specialty is tap, however she has trained in all aspects of dance.

Denise Costa

Acro Director

Having been in the dance world for as long as she can remember, Miss Denise helps dancers achieve their acro goals and tricks using her experience and knowledge. She works with all levels of students.

Grant Lepine

Jazz/Tap

Grant studied dance locally during his years growing up. He furthered his dance education at Dean College where he earned his BA in Dance in 2007. He has taught tap, jazz, and ballet and has performed in numerous dance competitions as well as theater and dance productions. He has also taught Zumba classes. Grant will be teaching tap classes on Wednesday and Jazz classes on Fridays. He brings a wealth of knowledge and talent to the studio.

Reese Moreau

Stregnth/Tumble Mini, Junior Company

She grew up within the walls of the studio, since the age of 6. Her love for all things DTRI was apparent immediately. She worked hard every day and made no excuses in the dance room. At nationals on the biggest stage, she never backed down whether it was adding a skill mid routine or supporting her team (literally and figuratively). The logo once told her she would carry the entire team if she asked her too. Last season, she danced with severe back pain. It was a tough decision, but her dancing had to stop for her safety and well-being. After tears on all sides, the decision was made by the logo to have this incredible young lady assist in classes for the new season. The request: train them to be you-the ultimate compliment.

Arlene Gilbert

Ballet Consultant

Arlene has specialized in superb classical ballet training since 1965. She trained and performed with The First New England Junior Ballet Company which included performing at the first Northeast Regional Ballet Festival in Scranton PA in 1959, The State Ballet of Rhode Island, The Boston Conservatory of Music, and she completed her Teacher Training Certification Program under Myles Marsden before opening her own school in 1965.

Cynthia Ryfa

Ballet/Strength

She started dancing at the age of 2 as dance has been apart of my family for generations. Starting off at Susan's School of Dance, a small studio, I learned as much as I could before outgrowing my former studio and looked to push myself more. Starting with Festival Ballet Summer Intensives at age 10, I transferred to Stephanie Kemp's New England Dance Academy where I worked hard and continued to push myself till the end of my 15th season. From training there, I got to take many Master classes from Olivia Cece, Peter Sabisino, Victor Smalley, Angel Armos, Ashley Andries and many more.

Timur Kan

Classical Ballet (Nov 2022)

Timur Kan began his professional training at the A. Seleznev Almaty Choreographic School in Almaty (Kazakhstan) at age 11. His ballet training is based on the Vaganova Method. Besides ballet, he also studied character, contemporary, and traditional folk dances as well. He has won 1st place in contemporary choreography nomination and 3rd place in ballet nomination in the Orleu International Ballet Competition (Almaty, Kazakhstan), where he performed contemporary dance pieces and classical dance variations from ballets Le Corsaire, Flame of Paris and Harlequinade. Upon graduating from the A. Seleznev Almaty Choreographic School where he received Associate of Fine Arts degree in ballet, he also received an award as a member of the Union of Choreographers of Kazakhstan. Timur joined the Abay State Opera & Ballet Theatre in Almaty, where he performed in a variety of classical ballets, such as Don Quixote, Swan Lake, La Bayadere, Sleeping Beauty, Romeo and Juliet, Flame of Paris and The Nutcracker. Timur worked as a guest dancer with The Samruk Contemporary Dance Theatre in Almaty (Kazakhstan), Joburg Ballet in Johannesburg (South Africa), Albany Berkshire Ballet in Albany (New York), and currently is with Island Moving Company (IMC) of Newport, Rhode Island.