Rachael Gnatowski founded New England Ballet Theatre in January 2020, and serves as Artistic & Executive Director. There are three major branches of the organization: the company, school, and community engagement. As Artistic & Executive Director, Rachael oversees all three branches and new initiatives. Rachael is committed to making ballet accessible and welcoming to new audience members. 

 

Originally from Frederick, Maryland, Rachael began her dance training under the direction of Joyce Morrison at the Frederick School of Classical Ballet. While performing as a member of the Urbana High School Dance Company under the direction of Stephanie Weigelt, she was named a Maryland All-State Dancer. She furthered her dance training attending summer intensives at the Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet, North Carolina School for the Arts, the Kansas City Ballet School, and Complexions Contemporary Ballet. Rachael then went on to graduate from Mercyhurst University with a B.A. in Dance. It was during her time at Mercyhurst where she was given the chance to perform with the Lake Erie Ballet and the Mercyhurst Ballet Theatre. Upon graduation, she danced professionally with Ballet Fleming, Fort Wayne Ballet, and Ballet Hartford. Rachael also performed as a guest artist with the Albany Berkshire Ballet, Deos Contemporary Ballet, Three Rivers Dance, and Blacksburg Ballet.

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Prior to Founding New England Ballet Theatre, Rachael served as Assistant Company Director for Connect the Dots Dance Company in Washington D.C. Rachael has choreographed eight full-length ballets for NEBT including two original ballets “The Fantastic Toyshop” and “The Long Black Veil”, along with numerous short works for NEBT’s mixed repertoire productions, Fort Wayne Ballet, AROVA Contemporary Ballet, Ballet Fleming, the Kingswood Oxford’s Choreographers’ Showcase, Three Rivers Dance, Ethel Walker School, Miss Porter’s School, and the School of Ballet Hartford.