The Ballet Center

Garance began her training when she was eight years old at the Royal Academy of Dance in The Netherlands before immigrating to the United States in 1980.  Garance trained with Gretel van Bruggen, Herci Marsden, Patrick Notaro, and Donald Acevedo.

She danced with State Ballet of Rhode Island from 1985-1995 where she became a soloist in 1992 and a principal dancer in 1994.  In 1996, Garance ventured into the realm of modern dance while working for choreographer Sally Mayo with Sally Mayo and Company Dancers in Disport.  In 1997, she performed as Heloise's dancing double in the world premier of the musical Rage of the Heart.  From 1996-1999 she was a frequent guest artist with Spindle City Ballet.

Garance has danced such classical roles as Swanhilda, Swanhilda's Rival, War and Prayer  in Coppelia, the Lilac Fairy in Sleeping Beauty, Zulma in Giselle, The Mother Hen and Baba Jaga in Pictures at an Exhibition, The Water Bearer in La Bayadere, Cinderella in Act III  The Sleeping Beauty, Senior Girl in Graduation Ball, The Sugarplum Fairy, Arabian,  Marzipan, and the Ballerina Doll in The Nutcracker.

Garance has been a board member of The Bristol Theater Company since 1999, and has choreographed three of their productions:  Bristol: A town for All Seasons, Evita and West Side Story.

Garance started teaching in 1989 in private studios throughout Rhode Island and Massachusetts.  In 1992-93, she was Regional Director for Creative Dance for Children, bringing creative movement to children in daycare centers throughout Rhode Island.  In September of 1997, Garance opened her own classical ballet school, The Ballet Center.  She resides with her husband, Steve, and two daughters, Anneke and Amelie, in Bristol.

Miss Ashley

Roger Fonnegra    (member of Festival Ballet) Ballet, Advanced Pointe and Variations

Ashley Rice   Young Children's Ballet and Ballet Movement

Diane Campagna  Jazz