The Ballet Academy of Chapel Hill is an advanced, invitation-only training program for serious dancers seeking focused instruction in classical ballet. Operated under the umbrella of Renner Dance Company, the Academy offers intensive classes in Ballet, Pointe, Variations, and ballet-specific conditioning. Led by Ballet Mistress Ms. Rossana Nesta and Ms. Rachel Carr, the program nurtures both technical precision and artistic expression while supporting dancers in developing versatility across other styles. This pre-professional track is designed to prepare committed students for high-level performance opportunities and future career pathways in dance.
Trained at Balletto di Roma and certified at the Accademia Nazionale di Danza in Rome, Ms. Rossana has taught and choreographed internationally for over 30 years. Her students have gone on to top-tier companies and schools such as the New York City Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, Royal Ballet London, Finnish National Ballet, and more. She brings a legacy of elite training and mentorship to every student she teaches.
A graduate of Point Park University with a B.A. in Dance Performance, Ms. Rachel plays an integral role at the Ballet Academy through her work in teaching, choreography, and administrative coordination. She collaborates closely with Ms. Rossana to guide student development and prepare dancers for performance.
Ballet Academy dancers participate in two major annual productions: The Nutcracker in December and a Spring performance in May. These performances are integral to the dancer’s journey, offering valuable opportunities to apply classroom training in a live setting while developing stage presence, confidence, and artistry.
Select Ballet Academy dancers may be invited to compete in major ballet competitions and will receive personalized coaching to prepare both Classical and Contemporary variations.
Invited dancers receive weekly private lessons with Ms. Rossana to refine their solo variations. Additional coaching is available with Ms. Rachel.
Dancers selected to compete will present both Classical and Contemporary variations and may also perform their regular competition solo at ballet-specific events.
Competitions are viewed as a tool for growth—building technique, stage presence, and resilience—rather than just a pursuit of awards.
If your dancer is interested in joining the ballet academy, fill out the form below or reach out to admin@rennerdance.com. We would love to talk with you about the right path for your dancer.
Born in Rome in 1967, Rossana Nesta graduated in 1985 from the school of Balletto di Roma, where she later taught from 1987 to 1995. In 1989, she obtained her Bachelor in Teaching Ballet from the Accademia Nazionale di Danza in Rome—the highest level of teaching qualification sponsored by the Italian Ministry of Public Instruction. During this period, she participated in teaching seminars both in Italy and abroad, including in Varna, Bulgaria, in 1992 during the prestigious International Ballet Competition. Between 1992 and 1995, she was a guest instructor at schools in Messina, Agrigento, Catania, and Venice.
In 1995, she attended an advanced teaching course at the Carcano Theater in Milan with Anna Maria Prina, then Director of the Scuola di Ballo of the Teatro alla Scala.
In 1996, Ms. Nesta moved to the United States, where she taught at both the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre (PBT) and Point Park University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, for five years. During this time, she participated in the PBT company’s production of Swan Lake in the role of the Queen. In 2002, she became a Partner of the School of American Ballet (SAB) in New York and was later invited to participate in a teaching seminar hosted by the institution.
At the end of 2004, she relocated to North Carolina to serve as Ballet Mistress at Cary Ballet Conservatory, a position she held until 2010. During those years, she organized summer intensive programs featuring guest instructors from prestigious institutions, including the New York City Ballet. In 2009, she also performed as a dancer in productions of Swan Lake and Picasso’s Salome with Carolina Ballet under the direction of Robert Weiss (New York City Ballet).
In 2011, she founded the International Ballet Academy in Cary, North Carolina, where she served as Artistic Director. During that time, she received licensing from the George Balanchine Foundation in New York to stage select works from the New York City Ballet repertoire, including Divertimento No. 15, Who Cares, and Western Symphony.
Between 2013 and 2019, Ms. Nesta received numerous awards as both teacher and choreographer, including “Outstanding Teacher,” “Outstanding Coach,” and “Outstanding Ballet School” at international competitions such as the Youth America Grand Prix (YAGP) and the American Dance Competition (ADC).
Many of her students have gone on to perform with renowned professional ballet companies, including: New York City Ballet, American Ballet Theatre (New York), San Francisco Ballet, Finnish National Opera and Ballet, Royal Danish Ballet, Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, Ballet West, Carolina Ballet, Atlanta Ballet, Austin Ballet, Richmond Ballet, and Idaho Ballet. Others have been accepted into top-tier ballet academies such as Princess Grace Academy (Monte Carlo), Royal Ballet School (London), English National Ballet School (London), Houston Ballet Academy, and Nashville Ballet School.
Since 2019, Ms. Nesta has served as Ballet Mistress of the Ballet Academy of Chapel Hill – Renner Dance Company, where she teaches Ballet (Cecchetti and Vaganova methods), Classical Repertoire, Variations, and Pilates. Her teaching philosophy is rooted in strong discipline and deep commitment to her students, whom she continues to mentor throughout their professional careers.
