Faculty

Established RISE Vineyard Performing Arts in 2007 with the aim to provide Island youth classical, diverse, premiere dance education in a studio environment they could call home. Her education includes an MFA in Choreography and Performance from the State University of New York (SUNY) Brockport, a BS in Physical Education, Bridgewater State University, and an AA in Dance, Dean College. Jil has been performing and teaching in the Martha’s Vineyard community since her arrival in 1996.  She maintains the focus to make RISE Vineyard Performing Arts a recognized center for dance education as well as a place for students to create, express, discover and support themselves and others.
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A native of Falmouth, Libby began her ballet training with Ballet New England of Cape Cod, MA.  She continued her studies at Boston Ballet, Lousville Ballet, and earned a BFA in Dance from The Boston Conservatory.  Libby has danced with City Ballet of San Diego, The San Diego Zoo, Spingle City Ballet, Providence Ballet Theater, Dance Italia, and with many choreographers and companies throughout New England, California, and NYC.  She is certified in Pilates, personal training, CPR, and is an Associate Member of the School of Natural Health and Sciences, she also competes in Ballroom and Latin dance. She was the dance teacher at The Prout School in Wakefield, RI for eight years and also teaches at The Island Moving Company in Newport, RI.

Daryl attended the high school and college dance program at The North Carolina School of the Arts. After college, she joined the professional world of dance and table waiting in New York City where her choreography was presented by Dance Theater Workshop, Movement Research at the Judson Church, Danspace Project, Brooklyn Arts Exchange, Williamsburg Art Nexus and The Yard.

Daryl has performed with esteemed friends and colleagues including Rebecca Lazier/Terrain Dance, Curt Haworth, Edisa Weeks and John Kelly. While in New York Daryl became involved in movement therapies, yoga and developmental movement study.
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Jesse graduated from Ohio University with a BFA in Performance and Choreography.  She started performing professionally with Stefanie Batten Bland (SBB) in Paris, France and remains a part of the troupe. With SBB, she has performed internationally at Festival Onze Bouge, Ris Orangis, Les Petites Scenes Ouvertes, and Cornell University’s Cultural Residency, along with nationally at The Baryshnikov Arts Center, Symphony Space, The Brooklyn Museum, Saratoga ArtsFest, Dogtown Dance Theater, Jacob Pillow’s Inside/Out, and Ringling International Arts Festival.
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Caitlin Cook

Caitlin is a dancer, choreographer, musician, Pilates teacher, Zero Balancer and movement student/ teacher. She is honored to be teaching for her 2nd year at RISE Vineyard Performing Arts.

Jessica has been performing and sharing her passion for Hip Hop for 15+ years.  Her training began on Martha’s Vineyard with Kelly Peters then migrated to New York City where she assisted and performed with him to become known as, Jessica Rabbit. In NYC, Jess worked with many up and coming artists, toured with Ru Paul Drag Race, and traveled extensively teaching and spreading the love of dance. She is happy to be back home, working with RISE and giving back to her community!

Melissa began dancing at age 3 with Beatrice Engels in her home town of Yardley, Pennsylvania.  She continued dancing at Rider University with American Repertory Ballet’s Princeton Ballet School.  Melissa has performed professionally with Roxey Ballet Contemporary, Dance Theater of Oregon, Traduza Dance, Eugene Ballet Company and BodyVox 2 as well as teaching at Princeton Ballet School. The Mill Ballet School, Oregon Ballet Academy, BodyVox Dance Center and the Multnomah Athletic Club.  She is also certified as an Integral Yoga instructor.  Melissa has been visiting the Vineyard throughout her life and decided to make it home four years ago.  She is very excited to be a part of the RISE family.