Bristol Ballet Staff

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Bristol Ballet Company - Staff

Michele Plescia - Artistic Director, Instructor

Michele Plescia studied ballet with Bristol Ballet’s founder and director, Constance Hardinge, beginning her studies at age seven. At age eight, she was one of a handful of Bristol students selected by Maria Tallchief, founder of Chicago City Ballet, to receive a Ford Foundation Scholarship to continue her ballet studies. Later Michele attended Sullins College as a dance major, under the direction of Madame Valentina Belova. Afterward, Michele was a member of a professional company in Arlington, Virginia, directed by Carmen Matte, former Prima Ballerina of the National Ballet of Washington, D.C. Michele has worked with Robert Barnette, Val Deacon, Ben Stevenson, and David Howard, among others. She has performed various roles in “The Nutcracker”, “Quatre Vignette”, the “Don Q. Pas de Deux”, “Les Sylphides”, and other original works.

Michele received her teaching certification from the prestigious Royal Academy of Dance, headquartered in London, England, in 2002. The internationally recognized Royal Academy of Dance is the world’s largest ballet examining and training organization. Michele passed the certification with merit.. Academy members have described her as a gracious and unassuming lady, as having a good eye for correction, as having a good rapport with her students, and as having high standards in demonstrating technique. Prior to returning to Bristol, Michele has spent the last twelve years teaching in the Chicago area, Many of her students have gone on to join regional companies and/or to major in dance in college.

Michele was honored by MINDS WIDE OPEN: Virginia Celebrates Women in the Arts in 2010 for her talent, creativity, and important contributions to the arts in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

“Michele is a master teacher. She is clear, concise, and commanding without being overbearing. She focuses the class motifs for her students, and her use of imagery is stellar.” – Tanya Picard, Chicago Master Teacher and Choreographer

Student Assistants

Bristol Ballet provides a mentoring program for it's more advanced and mature dancers, allowing them the opportunity to assist with younger children's classes. In this experience, these dancers learn to work with younger children as well as how the teaching process progresses from one level to another. It builds confidence by allowing them to develop their leadership skills and know that they are such role models for those tiny aspiring dancers!

Aimee Hayes

Michelle Peterson

Jessa Williams

Aimee is a freshman at Tennessee High School whose hobbies include crochet, reading, and knitting. She has been studying ballet for four years. Aimee enjoys assisting with the four year old class because she enjoys being around children. “The things they say are completely out of the blue sometimes”, Aimee said. “Bristol Ballet has taught me good posture, confidence in my abilities, and attitude.”

Aimee Hayes

Michelle is a sophomore at East High school and enjoys spending time with her friends, being outside on the lake getting a tan or riding a jet ski. Her family is very special to her, for with out them, “I wouldn’t be who I am today”. Michelle loves ballet and describes it as her “absolute passion”. Michelle feels that being an assistant teacher has helped her learn to work with young children and has discovered in her new position that the biggest lesson to learn is “patience”.

Michelle Peterson

Jessa is a home schooled sophomore who has been a student of Bristol Ballet for two years. Having studied dance for 12 years total, she also enjoys shopping, spending time with her friends, riding horses, and doing anything outside. Jessa is helping with the Primary/Ballet One class this year, and enjoys helping them learn new ballet and other skills, as well as being a role model for them. “They are so much fun to work with!”

Jesse

Barbara Baker – Part-time Bookkeeper

Barbara Baker was born in Pasadena, California in 1947. She completed all levels of education in the Arcadia, California school system and attended the Sawyer School of Business in Pasadena in 1965, graduating with a diploma in bookkeeping and secretarial disciplines.

Barbara has held different, challenging positions during her career, including Assistance to the Director of Human Resources for a manufacturing company in Liverpool, New York; Office Manager for a group of cardiologists in Syracuse, New York; Paralegal, Legal Secretary, Office Administrator and Bookkeeper for attorneys in Virginia Beach and Norfolk, Virginia. She is currently self employed doing court transcription work for attorneys and courts from Bristol to Knoxville, Tennessee in addition to her part time work as Bookkeeper for Bristol Ballet.

Barbara’s duties as Bookkeeper for Bristol Ballet include record keeping of income and expenses, depositing money received for Bristol Ballet, Accounts Payable and Receivable, and working with the accountant for preparation of taxes and audits. Barbara has been associated with Bristol Ballet for nearly ten years and is committed to the promotion of the organization for the benefit of the children enrolled and the audience members that Bristol Ballet serves.