Tamar Rachelle
Tamar Rachelle
Rehearsal Director
TAMAR RACHELLE is originally from Ithaca, NY, and received her high school training at North Carolina School of the Arts in Winston-Salem, NC. She danced professionally in 1977 with The Israeli Classical Ballet and toured the United States with the company. Ms. Rachelle then joined Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre and quickly rose through the ranks to become a Principal Dancer during a nineteen-year career from 1978-1997. Her treasured mentors include Duncan Noble, Mimi Paul, Joysanne Sidimus, Gyula Pandi, Frederick Franklin, Gwynne Ashton, Patrick Frantz, Patricia Wilde, Dana Arey, Janek Schergen, and Terrence S. Orr
Under Artistic Directors Patrick Frantz and Patricia Wilde at PBT, Tamar enjoyed dancing a diverse repertoire of classical, contemporary, and dramatic works, as well as multiple ballets by George Balanchine. As a Corps de Ballet and Soloist dancer, she had the opportunity to dance most roles in the classic ballets. Some of Tamar’s most memorable Principal roles in the classic ballets were Giselle, Swan Lake, The Sleeping Beauty, Romeo and Juliet, The Nutcracker, Don Quixote, and Cinderella. Among her favorites in the contemporary realm, Tamar is honored to have worked with famed choreographers Ohad Naharin in his premier of Tabularas, Patrick Frantz on Celsius Pas de Deus, Lila York, who set Paul Taylor’s, Mercuric Tidings and Sunset, and with Jiri Kylian and his work Return to the Strange Land. Ms. Rachelle also danced in several of Agnes de Mille’s dramatic works that were staged by Terrance Orr. These works include Rodeo and Fall River Legend. She had the pleasure of dancing in Antony Tudor’s Jardin Aux Lilas that was staged by Sally Wilson, as well as Yerma choreographed and staged by Domy Reiter Soffer. Some of her leading roles in Balanchine works include; Serenade, Concerto Barocco, Western Symphony, Scotch Symphony, Apollo, La Sonnambula, and Valse Fantasie. Most of these ballets were staged by Victoria Simon and Elyse Borne.
In the 25 years following her performing career, Tamar began teaching ballet at Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre School in the Graduate and Open Class Divisions. She also worked with the Pittsburgh Youth Ballet as Instructor and Ballet Mistress, helping to set and coach The Nutcracker, Coppelia, Aurora’s Wedding, 2nd Act Giselle, and 2nd Act Swan Lake. Ms. Rachelle also rehearsed Balanchine’s, Serenade, Valse Fantasie, Concerto Barocco, and excerpts from the ballets Who Cares, Walpurgisnacht, and Raymonda Variations.
Ms. Rachelle completed the CoreDynamic Pilates training in 2002 and a Comprehensive Certificate from the National Pilates Certification Program (NCPT) in 2008. In 2006, she became certified as a Gyrotonics Instructor. Since then, she has been an instructor at PBT working with Company Dancers, and as an instructor at the private studios Harmony Pilates and Gyrotonic Studio.
Carlos Agudelo, 2023 SC Governor's Award for an Individual
Ballet Spartanburg's Artistic Director, Carlos Agudelo, was awarded the South Carolina Governor's Award from the South Carolina Arts Commission on May 23, 2023, at the Chapman Cultural Center. The award was presented by Mr. David Platt, Executive Director of the South Carolina Arts Commission. "We recognize the unparalleled energy, enthusiasm, devotion and love for dance that Carlos has gifted to our community out of his passion for all to experience the arts for the past 32 years. We are overjoyed that Carlos has been recognized by the South Carolina Arts Commission, " Teresa S. Berline, Executive Director. "The South Carolina Arts Commission is an extraordinary organization in our state which promotes and advocates opportunities in the arts which values equality, access, diversity and inclusion. Ballet Spartanburg is honored by the support of the South Carolina Arts Commission and the recognition of Carlos Agudelo."