Principal Dancers

Margaret Chobanian — Peggy began dancing at the Brae Crest School of Ballet in 1990. She entered SBRI as an 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.” Her Principal Dancer roles include “Bidlow” (Pictures at an Exhibition), “Duck” (Petra and the Vuk), and in Impressions of the Sky and Safari. In spring of 2011, Peggy was Project Manager of SBRI’s successful Artist Exchange where over 100 visual artists and their works added a unique dimension to the ballet. 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 in painting from Rhode Island College, and currently serves on the Board of Directors for SBRI.  This is Peg’s third season as a principal dancer and her second time performing the feisty role of Swanhilda.

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, and Petra and the Vuk.  Norman is a web page developer, designs and maintains State Ballet’s web page, and has served numerous years 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.

Melissa Sorkin — Melissa began dancing at the Brae Crest School of Ballet in 2000.  She entered The State Ballet of RI in 2004 where she remained an Apprentice for two years before she was promoted to a Company member in 2006.  As a Company member, Melissa performed roles such as “Night and Day” (Coppelia), in Gracefully Gershwin, “Rabbit” (Gansel & Hetal), and “Morning” (Waltz of the Hours).  After being promoted to Soloist in 2010, Melissa had the opportunity to dance roles such as “War” and “Swanhilda’s Friend”(Coppelia), in Impressions of the Sky, and “Babayaga” (Pictures at an Exhibition).  She has also danced variations such as The Syncopated Clock and the “Coppelia Doll.”  In the winter of 2011, Melissa was promoted to Principal Dancer for her leading role as “Swanhilda” in the ballet Coppelia.  Since this honor, she has been privileged to dance “Lead Tartar Woman” (Polovtsian Dances).  This is Melissa’s first official season as a Principal Dancer and second year performing the role of Swanhilda.  She is a senior at Lincoln High School.