Ballet Arizona is the Southwest's premier professional ballet company with approximately 30 dancers under Artistic Director Daniela Cardim. Founded in 1986, this nonprofit organization serves Arizona communities through performances, The School of Ballet Arizona, and community engagement programs.
Our Mission:
To ignite the human spirit through the magic of dance.
Building a Community of Culture:
Founded in 1986 from the merger of three companies, Ballet Arizona has become the Southwest’s premier professional ballet company. After internationally acclaimed choreographer Ib Andersen joined Ballet Arizona as Artistic Director in 2000, he brought to Ballet Arizona artistic capabilities that had never before been seen in our state. Under his leadership, Ballet Arizona has mounted many seasons of successful ballet performances that have consistently received rave reviews not only locally but also in the center of the dance world, New York City.
Today, the company consists of about 30 dancers under the new artistic direction of internationally acclaimed dancer, choreographer, and arts leader, Daniela Cardim. Ballet Arizona is excited to follow her lead for the future of dance in Arizona.
Ballet Arizona is dedicated to preserving and celebrating classical dance while creating and commissioning new, innovative works. We are committed to supporting diversity throughout our organization and in our communities and take pride in sharing the rich tradition of classical ballet and the contemporary evolution of the art form with Arizona audiences.
Ballet Arizona also believes that communities thrive in a healthy balance of interests that includes arts as well as work, family activities, sports, leisure-time pursuits, enjoyment of nature and climate, active lifestyles. To help support this belief, we take a collaborative approach to strengthening community engagement in ballet and the arts. With school-day presentations and behind-the-scenes programs, free community performances and family events, we endeavor to provide Arizonans with many opportunities to learn more about our art form and understand how and why the arts can be so universally impactful. These educational and engagement programs touch the lives of more than 35,000 Valley residents of all ages each year and wouldn’t be possible without your generous support.
The School of Ballet Arizona is also an important part of Ballet Arizona. The school offers Pre-K to pre-professional levels as well as programs/classes for the community. With a focus on teaching professionalism, the school provides comprehensive dance training that meets the expectations of professional dance companies and equips students with a broad range of skills that enhance their lifelong success. Students are frequently integrated into professional performances with the main company and are consistently guided to achieve their greatest artistic and creative potential. The school also provides the professional teachers for our many other community engagement programs including Creative Aging Though Dance, Adaptive Dance, and Dance for Parkinson’s.
Looking forward to bright horizons:
With the combination of $3.2 million in voter-approved bond funds and $7.3 million from generous donors to the Next Step Campaign, Ballet Arizona and The School of Ballet Arizona moved in summer 2013 into the organization’s long-awaited, new permanent home at 2835 E. Washington Street in Phoenix. After 20 challenging years in small, dilapidated quarters on Indian School Road, the Company and the School spread its wings into a redesigned warehouse. In this cross-town move, the organization stepped out of a 14,000 square foot facility into a new home more than three times larger — outfitted with an expansive lobby, seven teaching, and rehearsal studios, including a “black box” performance space, as well as dressing rooms, showers, bathrooms, costume, and scene shops, and spaces for education and community programs.
The move ushered in a new era for Ballet Arizona as a community center for dance and dance learning unlike any other. Now begins the fulfillment of a plan for community engagement and creative place-making made possible in this accessible, purpose-built facility in a neighborhood adjacent to central Phoenix.
Creative expression and access to the performing arts build a thriving community. Our donors create a vibrant, engaging arts community by helping us reach over 80,000 people every season. It is because of your support that we are able to look forward to bright horizons and continue our tradition of dance excellence in Arizona.
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Ballet Arizona is a professional ballet company and nonprofit organization founded in 1986. The company consists of approximately 30 dancers under the artistic direction of Daniela Cardim and is dedicated to preserving classical dance while creating and commissioning new innovative works.
Ballet Arizona is located at 2835 E. Washington Street, Phoenix, AZ 85034. Some Primary level classes are also held at the Center for Child & Family Wellness, 424 W Rio Salado Pkwy, Mesa, AZ 85201.
Ballet Arizona offers classical and contemporary ballet performances, dance training through The School of Ballet Arizona with classes for ages 2 through pre-professional levels, adult drop-in classes, summer programs, and community engagement programs including Creative Aging Through Dance, Adaptive Dance for Down Syndrome, and Dance for Parkinson’s. The organization also provides school-day presentations, behind-the-scenes programs, free community performances, and family events.
Arizona audiences and community members can attend performances and family events. Students ages 2-4 can join Creative Movement for Toddlers, ages 4-20 can enroll in school programs, and teens age 14 and up plus adults of all ages can take Adult Open Classes at Beginner, Intermediate, or Advanced levels. The organization also serves schools and community groups through educational programs.
The School of Ballet Arizona offers programs for ages 2-4 (Creative Movement for Toddlers), ages 4-12 (Children’s and Lower Division), ages 12-20 (Upper Division and Pre-Professional programs), and teens age 14 and up plus adults of all ages (Adult Open Classes with Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced levels).
The organization offers professional company auditions, Studio Company opportunities for pre-professional dancers, performance opportunities in productions including The Nutcracker, student showcase performances, and Upper Division students are eligible to audition for Ballet Arizona productions. The school is authorized to enroll international students and can support vocational training visas for Studio Company members.
The School of Ballet Arizona uses a unique syllabus based on traditional classical ballet taught across all divisions with live piano accompaniment. The curriculum emphasizes classical ballet technique, artistry, and performance opportunities, including Pointe, Variations, Pas de Deux, Horton, Contemporary, Men’s class, and Conditioning for Upper Division students.
Ballet Arizona performs classical and contemporary ballet including productions from the classical canon and masterpieces of the 20th and 21st centuries. The company presents performances at Symphony Hall with The Phoenix Symphony. Studio Company members perform alongside the professional company and present their own works independently.
Main phone: 602-381-0184, Box Office: 602-381-1096, School: 602-381-0188. Email contacts include auditions@balletaz.org for general auditions, studiocompany@balletaz.org for Studio Company auditions, bazeducation@balletaz.org for student matinees, and philanthropy@balletaz.org for scholarships. The organization is located at 2835 E. Washington Street, Phoenix, AZ 85034.