Rebecca Janes is a Visiting Lecturer in Music (Ballet) and Co-Director of the Jacobs Academy Ballet Program. Born in Urbana, Ohio, Rebecca began her training under the watchful eye of her mother, Cindy Carmazzi. Her early training also included Dayton Ballet, San Francisco Ballet, Joffrey Ballet, and Ballet Met. Mrs. Janes professional career began at the young age of 17 with Dayton Ballet where she performed for nine years as a principal dancer. In 1999 she was awarded the Josie Award, for the Most Outstanding Female Performer of the year. Before joining Charlotte Ballet as a principal dancer in 2002, Rebecca was a member of Ballet Met and was a regular performer with the summer pick up company, Chautauqua Festival Ballet. 

During Mrs. Janes’ career, she has been featured in numerous full length ballets including Juliet in Romeo and Juliet, Odile and Odette in Swan Lake, Lucy in Dracula, Alice in Alice in Wonderland, Cinderella in Cinderella, Clara and Sugar Plum Fairy in The Nutcracker, and Desdemona in Othello. Rebecca has also had the joy of dancing repertoire ballets by George Balanchine, Anthony Tudor, Alonzo King, Alvin Ailey, Nacho Duato, Gerald Arpino, Marius Petipa, Septime Webre, Twyla Tharp, Dwight Rhoden, Mark Godden, Jean Pierre Bonnefoux, Sasha Janes, Stephen Mills, Lila York and more. Some of her favorites were the lead in Rubies, Serenade, Dangerous Liaisons, Na Floresta, Map, and Nine Sinatra Songs. 

Since retiring from the stage in 2012, Rebecca has enjoyed teaching, re-staging ballets, and choreographing for the Chautauqua Dance Program, Jacobs Academy Ballet, Charlotte Ballet Academy, Dance Davidson, Open Door Studios, and Piedmont School of Music & Dance. She has also been certified in Romana Pilates and Progressive Contemporary Technique. Rebecca lives in Bloomington with her husband and their three teenagers.