Rachel Miscenich-Catanzariti

Rachel Miscenich-Catanzariti joined Boston Conservatory at Berklee in 2017 as an assistant professor of theater, specializing in ballet.

Miscenich-Catanzariti had an international career as a member of the New Orleans Ballet, Ballet Mississippi, Cincinnati Ballet, and the Basel Ballet of Switzerland, performing throughout the United States, Europe, and Taiwan. She enjoyed a wide-ranging repertoire, from the pure classics of Petipa and Fokine to more contemporary works, including those of George Balanchine, Paul Taylor, and Nils Christie. She worked closely with such notable choreographers as John Butler, Hans van Manen, Peter Anastos, Heinz Spoerli, Frederick Franklin, and Maurice Béjart.

Miscenich-Catanzariti has been principal guest artist with Uptown Dance Theatre, the Portland Ballet, North Shore Civic Company, Boston Dance Company, and, most recently, DanceVisions. She trained with Harvey Hysell and Vincenzo Celli in the Cecchetti technique, and with Natalie Krassovska in the Vaganova technique. She received additional coaching from Glen Gilmore, Barbara Forbes, Milenco Banovic, and Alexander Minz, and attended the North Carolina School of the Arts and San Francisco Ballet School.

Following a severe injury early in her career, Miscenich-Catanzariti sought a more organic approach to ballet, which she found with Maggie Black and Finis Jhung in New York. This was profoundly transformative, and continues to inform both her dancing and teaching today. Miscenich-Catanzariti has been on the faculties of the South Shore Conservatory and Jose Mateo Ballet Theatre of Boston, and for more than 25 years has guest taught at various schools in Louisiana, Massachusetts, and Italy. She has also written and directed in-school productions at the K-6 level.

Miscenich-Catanzariti lives on the South Shore with her husband, has four grown children, and continues to perform in the Boston area.