Paulo Arrais
Co-Founder and Artistic Director
Paulo Arrais is a highly accomplished international artist, choreographer, and educator who retired in 2023 as a Principal Dancer with Boston Ballet after more than a decade performing at the highest level.
Paulo began his ballet training at the age of 11 in his hometown of Goiânia, Goiás, Brazil. Just four years later, he was awarded a full scholarship from the Nureyev Foundation to study at the Paris Opera Ballet School. At 17, he was invited by Gailene Stock, Director of The Royal Ballet School in London, to complete his training there, where he graduated with High Commendations.
As a professional dancer, Paulo spent three years with the Norwegian National Ballet before joining Alonzo King LINES Ballet in San Francisco, where he further explored his contemporary artistry. In 2009, Mikko Nissinen invited him to join Boston Ballet. He went on to spend 12 years as a Principal Dancer with the company.
During his career, Paulo performed leading roles in classics such as The Nutcracker, The Sleeping Beauty, Swan Lake, Don Quixote, and Romeo and Juliet, as well as John Cranko’s Onegin and numerous works by George Balanchine. He worked closely with many of the world’s most celebrated choreographers, including John Neumeier, Jiří Kylián, William Forsythe, Alonzo King, Jorma Elo, Liam Scarlett, Paul Lightfoot, Sol León, and Pontus Lidberg.
His international appearances have taken him to prestigious stages across four continents, including the Paris Opera Garnier, Royal Opera House in London, Bolshoi Theatre, Mariinsky Theatre, Mikhailovsky Theatre, Teatro dell’Opera di Roma, Caracalla Baths, Venice Biennale, Paris Opera Bastille, Oslo Opera House, Boston Opera House, Lincoln Center, Kennedy Center, National Centre for the Performing Arts in Beijing, Korean National Theatre, Orsolina28 in Italy, Hollywood Bowl with the LA Philharmonic, and the National Arts Centre in Ottawa, among many others.
Alongside his performance career, Paulo has established himself as a choreographer. While at Boston Ballet, he created three works for the company, including mainstage performances and digital projects. His choreography has been performed at the Maris Liepa Gala in London, the Kremlin in Moscow, Ballet Rhode Island, the National Arts Centre in Ottawa, and the Valentina Kozlova International Ballet Competition. His dance film White Swan, created in collaboration with the Boston Pops and Principal Dancer Derek Dunn, gained international recognition during the pandemic.
Paulo is also a passionate teacher and coach. He has taught for Boston Ballet School and Summer Dance Program, CPYB, Walnut Hill School for the Arts, Ballet Rhode Island, Kansas City Ballet, and internationally in Japan, Italy, France, and Brazil. He has coached numerous dancers, including former Boston Ballet Principal Misa Kuranaga in the role of Odette/Odile in Swan Lake. In 2017, he was named to El Mundo Magazine’s “Latino 30 Under 30.”
In September 2023, Paulo co-founded Arrais Ballet with Vanya Sagar. While considering his next chapter after retiring from the stage, he and Vanya explored how he could share his extensive ballet experience and give back to the next generation of aspiring dancers. Paulo and Vanya recognized a need for an approach to ballet education that drew on his artistic experience and distinctive teaching philosophy, and together developed a shared vision for the school. As Artistic Director, Paulo leads its artistic vision, curriculum, and training. His teaching approach combines technical precision with artistry, musicality, and individual attention, encouraging students to understand the purpose behind each movement while developing their own expressive voice.
At the heart of Paulo’s philosophy is the belief that rigorous training and a supportive environment help students grow together. At Arrais Ballet, high expectations are paired with encouragement, respect, and room for creativity, individuality, and artistic risk-taking. Paulo is committed to helping each student build confidence and realize their potential, whether they aspire to a professional career or carry the many benefits of ballet into other pursuits.
A certified instructor in Classical Pilates, Paulo also believes strongly in cross-training to build the strength and stamina essential for ballet. Having faced numerous injuries during his own career, he credits Pilates with playing a vital role in his recovery and longevity as a dancer. His approach to ballet education integrates technique, artistry, and wellness, supporting students’ development as both dancers and individuals.
Vanya Sagar
Co-Founder and Executive Director
Vanya Sagar is a career human resources executive and the Co-Founder and Executive Director of Arrais Ballet, bringing extensive experience in building organizations, developing leaders, and creating strong, connected communities.
A three-time Chief People Officer, Vanya’s career spans biotechnology, healthcare, and academic medicine. She has held the top human resources executive roles at Sionna Therapeutics, Affinivax, and Sigilon Therapeutics, building on earlier leadership experience at Biogen and Mass General Brigham. Across these organizations, she has helped teams grow and navigate significant change. Her work has centered on building cultures grounded in trust, collaboration, and belonging, alongside the strategy and organizational foundations needed for lasting success.
Throughout her career, Vanya has worked closely with founders and leadership teams to turn ambitious visions into thriving organizations. She has brought that same approach to Arrais Ballet, where her belief that strong institutions begin with a clear purpose and a commitment to their people helps guide the school’s development.
Through her daughter’s years of ballet training, summer intensives, and competitions, Vanya has seen firsthand the dedication ballet requires of students and their families. That experience informs her commitment to open communication and a school culture that values families and supports each student’s individual aspirations.
Vanya’s love of ballet and her experience as a ballet parent and business leader helped inspire the founding of Arrais Ballet. She and Paulo Arrais saw a need for the kind of ballet education his exceptional teaching approach could offer—combining technical rigor, artistry, and individual attention in a supportive environment. Together, they developed a shared vision for the school and launched Arrais Ballet in September 2023 with six students in Vanya’s basement. As Co-Founder and Executive Director, she provides leadership for the school’s business strategy and growth, working alongside Paulo to build the school and community they envisioned.
Vanya believes the value of ballet extends well beyond the studio and the stage. The discipline, resilience, creativity, and confidence developed through training can serve young people wherever their ambitions lead. At Arrais Ballet, her commitment is to a school where outstanding artistic training and a supportive community give each student the opportunity to grow and thrive.
OUR FACULTY
At Arrais Ballet, our faculty combines professional excellence with a deep passion for teaching. Together, they bring world-class experience, diverse artistic perspectives, and a shared commitment to nurturing each student’s growth in an environment that values technique, artistry, and wellness.
Emily Entingh
Full-Time Senior Faculty
Emily Entingh trained in Southern California and at the Kirov Academy of Ballet in Washington, D.C. She joined Houston Ballet II in 2010 and, in 2011, was chosen to represent Houston Ballet at the International Youth Dance Festival in Budapest, Hungary. Emily went on to join Boston Ballet II in 2012, became a company member in 2014, and was promoted to second soloist in 2019.
Her extensive repertoire includes Florence Clerc’s La Bayadère; Marius Petipa’s The Sleeping Beauty; Mikko Nissinen’s Swan Lake; John Cranko’s Onegin; Leonid Jakobson’s Rodin and Pas de Quatre; Harald Lander’s Études; Sir Frederick Ashton’s Cinderella; and August Bournonville’s La Sylphide and Pas de Six from Napoli. She has also performed in Justin Peck’s Increases; Jerome Robbins’ The Concert, Glass Pieces, Interplay, and Fancy Free; and numerous works by George Balanchine, including Symphony in C, Serenade, Coppélia, Jewels, Symphony in Three Movements, Stravinsky Violin Concerto, Episodes, The Prodigal Son, Chaconne, Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto No. 2, Agon, Theme and Variations, and Minkus Pas de Trois.
Emily has danced principal roles in William Forsythe’s Pas Parts 2018 and Blake Works I; Jorma Elo’s Bach Cello Suites; Mikko Nissinen’s The Nutcracker; and the role of Myrtha in Larissa Ponomarenko’s staging of Giselle.
She has also distinguished herself in competition, earning the regional Junior Youth America Grand Prix Award in Los Angeles in 2008 and placing in the Top Twelve at the New York City Finals. In 2010, she again placed in the Top Twelve at the Youth America Grand Prix Finals, was a semi-finalist at the USA International Ballet Competition in Jackson, Mississippi, and received the Grand Prize in the Music Center Spotlight Awards in Los Angeles.
Since joining Arrais Ballet in its second year, Emily has become an integral part of the school’s faculty. As Full-Time Senior Faculty, she brings extensive professional experience and a thoughtful, attentive approach to teaching, recognizing each student’s strengths and supporting their development. Her grace, refined artistry, and keen eye for detail help students develop technical precision and an appreciation for the beauty of classical ballet.
Melissa Gelfin
Full-Time Faculty
Melissa Gelfin began her ballet training with Lisa Collins Vidnovic at Metropolitan Ballet Academy and continued with Barbara Sandonato and Andrea Long-Naidu at Barbara Sandonato School of Ballet. She joined the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School at American Ballet Theatre in 2009, under the direction of Franco De Vita and Raymond Lukens, and was awarded a National Training Scholarship with ABT.
Melissa danced with Orlando Ballet II and Orlando Ballet Company from 2011–2014 and was a finalist in the 2014 Jackson International Ballet Competition. She joined Cincinnati Ballet as a New Dancer for the 2014–2015 season and was promoted to the corps de ballet in February 2015. She was promoted to First Soloist in 2017 and Principal Dancer in 2018.
During her career with Cincinnati Ballet, Melissa’s repertoire included classical and contemporary works by Septime Webre, Yuri Possokhov, Victoria Morgan, Val Caniparoli, Jerome Robbins, George Balanchine, Nicolo Fonte, Annabelle Lopez Ochoa, Adam Hougland, and Ma Cong. She danced principal roles in Septime Webre’s ALICE (in Wonderland) and The Wizard of Oz; Victoria Morgan’s The Nutcracker, King Arthur’s Camelot, and Romeo and Juliet; Kirk Peterson’s Coppélia and Swan Lake; George Balanchine’s Rubies and Serenade; and Devon Carney’s The Sleeping Beauty. She also originated roles in Penny Saunders’ Nannerl, Myles Thatcher’s Anomaly, Andrea Schermoly’s Swivet, and several works by Jennifer Archibald.
As a choreographer, Melissa presented the world premiere of Clockwise in Cincinnati Ballet’s 2019 Kaplan New Works Series. She also choreographed and performed a solo work in the inaugural 2018 Female Choreographic Initiative Festival hosted by Houston Ballet.
As a full-time faculty member at Arrais Ballet, Melissa brings exceptional versatility in both classical ballet and contemporary dance, along with an infectious energy and a deep passion for teaching. She draws on her experience as a Principal Dancer and choreographer to help students build a strong technical foundation while exploring musicality, movement, and artistic expression. Her enthusiasm animates the studio, encouraging dancers to challenge themselves, approach their training with curiosity, and find joy in their progress.
Daniela Fabelo
Full-Time Faculty
Daniela Fabelo began her ballet training at the Cuban National Ballet School at the age of ten, where she graduated as both a professional dancer and ballet teacher.
She joined the Cuban National Ballet in 2015 and was promoted to First Soloist in 2018. In 2019, she joined Ballet de Monterrey, where she quickly advanced to the rank of Principal Dancer. In 2022, she joined Boston Ballet as a dancer.
Her repertoire includes leading classical and neoclassical roles such as Odette/Odile in Swan Lake, Kitri in Don Quixote, the Sugar Plum Fairy in The Nutcracker, the title role in Giselle, and Lise in La Fille mal gardée, as well as works by George Balanchine. She has performed internationally throughout Europe and at renowned festivals in Cuba and Italy.
Alongside her performing career, Daniela has cultivated extensive teaching experience. She was regularly invited to teach at dance festivals and educational programs throughout Mexico, sharing her artistic and technical expertise with emerging dancers. She also held a full-time ballet teaching position and guest teaching engagements at the Ballet de Monterrey School.
During her formative years, Daniela received multiple awards at the International Meeting of Ballet Academies in Havana, reflecting her strong classical foundation, artistic versatility, and refined technical skill.
As a full-time faculty member at Arrais Ballet, Daniela brings a strong foundation in the Cuban ballet tradition and a disciplined, purposeful approach to teaching. Her commitment to consistent training and careful attention to execution help students develop precision, control, and care in each movement. She approaches her work with dedication and clear expectations, encouraging dancers to build strong habits and take pride in their progress.
Anaïs Chalendard
Associate Faculty and Artist-in-Residence
Anaïs Chalendard began her professional career at the age of 17 after training under Dominique Khalfouni at the École Nationale de Danse de Marseille Roland Petit. She went on to dance with several renowned companies, including the Deutsche Oper am Rhein, Berlin Ballet, and Boston Ballet. Her repertoire has included leading roles in Romeo and Juliet, Manon, Swan Lake, Giselle, The Sleeping Beauty, La Sylphide, and Apollo, as well as originating roles in productions of Carmen, La Bayadère, and Anna Karenina.
Anaïs is a recipient of the “Emerging Dancer Award” and was named among the “100 Best Dancers in the World” by Dance Europe magazine. She has performed on international stages including the Nureyev Festival in Russia and the Mozart Festival in Salzburg, and retired from the stage in 2019 following a performance of Giselle with Joburg Ballet.
Passionate about passing on her artistry, Anaïs has coached numerous young dancers and served as an adjudicator at The World Ballet Competition, ADC/IBC, and the YAGP Job Fair. She has taught at institutions such as Nashville Ballet and Boston Ballet School, and has worked alongside Maina Gielgud in setting Giselle for the Annarella Conservatory.
She serves as Director of UNBLANCHÉ Ballet Academy in Japan and collaborates closely with Yury Yanowsky at Ballet RI.
As Associate Faculty and Artist-in-Residence at Arrais Ballet, Anaïs returns throughout the year to teach, coach, and create, inspiring the next generation of dancers with her artistry and depth of experience.
Madysen Felber
Visiting Faculty
Madysen Felber began her dance training in Jacksonville, Florida, where she built a strong foundation in classical ballet. At age 15, she competed in the Youth America Grand Prix and was invited to attend Canada’s National Ballet School in Toronto.
She went on to complete both the professional and post-secondary programs at NBS, and in 2014 was selected to perform with the National Ballet of Canada in Christopher Wheeldon’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.
Madysen joined Sarasota Ballet in 2015, where she performed works by Sir Frederick Ashton, George Balanchine, and Antony Tudor. Her time with the company allowed her to grow artistically and gain deeper experience with a wide range of classical and neoclassical repertoire.
In 2019, she became a company artist with Boston Ballet. During her time with the company, she performed in works by William Forsythe, Akram Khan, Jiří Kylián, Crystal Pite, Justin Peck, and Helen Pickett, continuing to expand her versatility and experience across a range of choreographic styles.
Having served as a full-time faculty member at Arrais Ballet, Madysen remains part of the school community as Visiting Faculty. Passionate about mentorship, she is committed to sharing her knowledge of the professional dance world and inspiring young dancers to grow with confidence, artistry, and curiosity.
