Eva Marie Pacheco celebrates the re-opening of Providence Ballet along with choreographer Nathan Andary, IMC dancer Ira Harding and Everett's Rachel Jungels

Eight months after a fire destroyed their Eddy Street studio, Eva Marie Pacheco and Michael Bolger held their grand opening party in Providence Ballet's new location on Oxford Street. As if the gods were blessing the event, the temperature was a balmy 63 degrees and people ambled coatless through the fenced yard

Peter Duffet and Nikki Carrera, dancer/choreographer as well as manager of LaBrie, RI's best known dance store, mug for the camera

Providence Ballet is now housed in a renovated former fire house. Originally built in 1928, it went out of service in 1988 and was later converted to a private residence. Eva Marie and Michael built a 40 by 20 foot dance studio on the main floor and the second floor is their family's living quarters.

Mayor David Cicilline made a surprise visit to present Eva Marie with a citation for her efforts to keep Providence Ballet in the city. "Welcome home to Providence." he exclaimed after the presentation and added "It's a great building with great energy!"

Some of RI's biggest dance names were on hand including three generations of the Jungels clan. (Click here to see a small sampling of who attended.)

Classes start in the new space on Tuesday January 9, but on Saturday the building was filled with joyous dance people welcoming a dance space to Providence's South side.

PB's brand new Marley floor took a beating last Saturday night as hordes of well wishers packed the dance floor

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