Principal Dancers

Margaret Chobanian — Peggy has been dancing at the Brae Crest School of Ballet since 1990. She entered SBRI as a apprentice in 1995, and was promoted to the Company in 1997 where she has since then been given the opportunity to dance many roles such as “Harvest” and “War” (Coppelia) and “Jewels” (The Sleeping Beauty). Since becoming a soloist in 2008, Peggy performed such roles as “Swanhilda’s Friend,” and “Dawn” (Coppelia), “Pas de Six” and “Moyna” (Giselle) and in Gracefully Gershwin. She has also danced the solo variations of “Rhapsody” and “Jasmine.” Peggy is a recipient of SBRI’s Partner with the Arts Award, recognizing her long-time commitment and artistic dedication to SBRI and the arts. She is a professional artist with a BFA from Rhode Island College, while managing a local retail shop. This season Peg has been promoted as a principal dancer.

Holly Fusco — Holly joined SBRI as an apprentice in 1996. Two years later, Holly became a company member. As a new soloist in 2000, Holly danced as “Swanhilda’s Friend” and “Discord” (Coppelia). Upon her return from college at The University of New Hampshire, Holly jumped back into the company dancing roles in: “Jewels” (The Sleeping Beauty), Boys Will Be Boys, and “Pas de Six” (Giselle). Spring 2010, she performed the demanding role of Queen Myrtha (Giselle) for SBRI’s 50th celebration. This is Holly’s 4th season as a principal dancer and performing the feisty role of Swanhilda, Holly resides in Woonsocket, and works as an RN at Roger Williams Medical Center.

Norman Bell — Norman began dancing with SBRI in 1998. In 2001, Norman was promoted to a soloist dancer and has partnered many of SBRI’s leading ballerinas in ballets such as Ballet of the Clowns, “Bidlow” (Pictures at an Exhibition), “Cinderella’s Prince Charming” (The Sleeping Beauty), Thais Meditation, “Hilarion” (Giselle), “Prince Igor” (Polovtsian Dances), and Destiny. In 2003, Norman was promoted to a principal dancer, performing in Walpurgis Night and Ballet West. Norman is a web page developer, designs and maintains State Ballet’s web page, and serves on SBRI’s Board of Directors. He is a recipient of a Partner with the Arts Award in recognition of his many years of dedication to SBRI.

Javid Moghaddasnia — Javid began dancing in 2003 at Shannon Obrien’s School of Dance, owned by SBRI alumna dancer Shannon Marshall. He joined the State Ballet of RI as a Company dancer in 2006. Javid has demonstrated his dancing and acrobatic abilities in such ballets as Ballet of the Clowns, “Harvest” in Coppelia, and Graduation Ball. In 2008, he was promoted to Soloist and performed the role of “Black Bird” in Gansel and Hetal and in the world premiere of Gracefully Gershwin, while balancing his commitment as a cheerleader for the Rhody All-Stars. In 2009, with his professional partnering proficiency, Javid became a Principal dancer, and danced the lead male roles of “Frantz” in Coppelia, “Albrecht” in Giselle, and most recently in My heart Will Go On which was performed at the Gloria Gemma Breast Cancer Research Foundation’s Flames of Hope opening ceremonies. Happy to be back for his 4th season with SBRI, Javid also manages a local retail store.