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Becky VanBriggle began her ballet training at the age of four. She studied at the Jordan College of Fine Arts at Butler University in Indianapolis, IN. Her primary teachers there were Jack Copeland, Peggy Dorsey, Colette Kaufman, Averil Johns, and Rebecca Rutt. She also studied tap with Linda Kelso and jazz with Larry Jones.

At the age of 5, she was chosen to perform with the Bolshoi Ballet during their visit to the United States and was given the nickname “Angel” by the Bolshoi company members. During her time as a student at the Jordan College of Fine Arts, she was invited to perform with the Butler Ballet in various roles under the direction of George Verdak.

Becky began her teaching career in 1982 as the owner of Rebecca’s School of Dance. At RSD Miss Becky’s students were introduced to many classical story ballets and many original works that were performed at the studio’s yearly spring performance. Among them  Paquita, The Princess and the Pea, Cinderella, Tales of Vienna Woods, For the Love of Sherbet, Swan Lake, Little Red Riding Hood, Coppelia, Sleeping Beauty, Bolero, and Pas de Quatre were favorites. Miss Becky also instituted the very popular Winter Review, which she has re-instituted for Ballerinas Academy of Dance in Noblesville, IN.

Miss Becky’s students through the years have been accepted to the Dance Major Program at the Tisch School of Performing Arts at  NYU, Julliard’s Dance Major Program in New York City, Ball State’s Dance Major Program in Muncie IN, The Mason Gross School of Fine Arts Dance Dept. at Rutgers University in NY and Indiana’s Butler University Dance Major Program. Several of her students have become excellent teachers, many of whom make up the faculty of Ballerinas Academy of Dance.

Miss Becky also co-created the Indianapolis Youth Ballet Co. where she staged Paquita, Graduation Ball, Coppelia, Cinderella, Swan Lake and La Fille Mal Gardee  for the company. At RSD and then when staging Swan Lake for the Indianapolis Youth Ballet, she put her own special stamp on the White Swan pas de deux  section of the ballet where multiple students were given a chance to perform different sections of the pas de deux. She also created a trio for three soloists for sections of the Black Swan pas de deux. A favorite section of her  choreography is at the end of the ballet where the corps, by means of two interchanging lines, keep the White Swan and Prince from danger from the Black Swan. In La Fille Mal Gardee Miss Becky changed the story to include Elsa a role created to bring comedy and a true love interest to one of the main male characters. The traditional retarded male figure was replaced with a lovable funny land owner.

Miss Becky continues her dance training with Rob Jenkins, Ballerinas resident ballroom teacher. Her favorite style of ballroom are the smooth dances, such as the waltz and fox trot. She is also training in modern dance with Michelle Buchannan.

Miss Becky is very pleased with the program and faculty that she has brought together for Ballerinas Academy of Dance. All current teachers share the same passion for bringing the joy of dance to our community.

Come Dance with Us!!