About Us
Welcome to Bella Vita, your go-to Dance Company and Wellness Center in vibrant Manchester, NH. Directed by Rose Gibney and the dynamic BV Leadership Team, we offer a haven for dance enthusiasts and wellness seekers.
Our passion for Salsa, Bachata, and Latin dance shines through every class, workshop, and performance. We create a warm, supportive environment where everyone feels at home and ready to dance. With years of experience in the New Hampshire Salsa and Bachata community, we are dedicated to sharing the joy of dance.
At Bella Vita, we provide structured classes, engaging workshops, and vibrant performance opportunities, fostering a growing community of dance lovers. Join us and experience the love, joy, and vibrant spirit that dance brings to our lives. Come dance, come thrive – experience the Bella Vita difference!
Our passion for Salsa, Bachata, and Latin dance shines through every class, workshop, and performance. We create a warm, supportive environment where everyone feels at home and ready to dance. With years of experience in the New Hampshire Salsa and Bachata community, we are dedicated to sharing the joy of dance.
At Bella Vita, we provide structured classes, engaging workshops, and vibrant performance opportunities, fostering a growing community of dance lovers. Join us and experience the love, joy, and vibrant spirit that dance brings to our lives. Come dance, come thrive – experience the Bella Vita difference!
Meet our instructors/staff
Rose Gibney- CEO
Rose Gibney is the owner and creative director of Bella Vita Dance Company and Wellness Center. Rose graduated with a BFA from the Institute of Art and Design at New England College in 2021. Her love for painting has found its way into her creative choreography process in many little ways. Rose discovered her passion for Latin dance in 2018 and has since attended numerous Latin dance congresses across the United States, performed in multiple showcases and choreographed many dances for her students. Rose's dream has always been to open her own Wellness Center/Center for the Arts and it is finally happening! Rose hopes to continue to help grow the New England dance and wellness community and create opportunities for community to grow and flourish. 
Crystal Acevedo- Instructor
An outgoing, bubbly personality with a serving of Latin spice is the perfect description for this Puerto Rican beauty. A simple girls' night out to Copa in 2017 ignited a love for dance and a passion to share it with Manchester and surrounding communities. This mother of three uses music and dance as ways for self expression and breaks from busy day-to-day routines. When she is not helping people smile in the dental office, or taking care of her mommy duties, you can find her teaching at Bella Vita or burning up the dance floor. 
Greg St Louis- Instructor
Greg St Louis entered into this world with two left feet and decided to make a change to that 7 years ago by taking up dancing under JR and Susie Q of NH. It quickly grew into a passion, where he danced 7 days a week, taking classes and social dancing. He entered the Bella Vita family in 2017 and in 2019 was asked to join the team as an instructor. He has since taught most of their bachata classes, choreographed the bachata student dance teams, and performed with his fellow instructors at shows and congresses across the east coast. |
Lauren Cowan- Business Manager
Lauren Cowan is the Business Manager at Bella Vita, where she plays a pivotal role in event planning, community development, and managing daily operations. With degrees in English and Journalism, Lauren brings a rich background in tech and marketing to her role. Her journey in dance began in her childhood in the Virgin Islands and continued in Houston, Texas, exploring various dance styles and genres. Inspired by her grandmother, a competitive dancer, Lauren developed a deep love for Latin dance from a young age. Her passion for dance was reignited when she moved to New Hampshire in 2020 and discovered Bella Vita—a place she now calls home and a community she considers family. Since joining Bella Vita in 2022, Lauren has not only performed Salsa and Bachata routines nationally but also contributed creatively by designing studio merchandise and organizing themed social events. Outside the studio, Lauren is an avid traveler and writer, and she runs a local book club. Her dynamic approach at Bella Vita ensures that every event is not just an activity but an experience, fostering a vibrant and welcoming community. 
Michelle Barbeau- Instructor
Michelle Barbeau is the Business Manager at Bella Vita, and her leadership roles include event planning, community development, instructing, assisting with team choreography and management and overseeing day to day business operations. She holds a Master of Business Administration in Leadership. Michelle is a NH native, and music and dance has been part of her life since an early age. At 6, Michelle began training at the Dance Studio of Manchester in classical ballet and went on to learn Pointe. She loved dance, but had a strong desire to learn music and began taking piano lessons at Ted Herbert’s Music School, Manchester. She went on to study Clarinet, Guitar, and Slide Trombone. Michelle joined Bella Vita Dance Academy as a student in 2019, studying Salsa on2, Cha Cha, and Bachata. She has a desire to spread the love and joy of dance with the local community and encourage people to try something new outside of their comfort zone. She lives a very active lifestyle and outside of dance, her hobbies include running, obstacle course races, and paddle boarding. |
