27 December 2018
Ballet Arizona Year in Review: 2018
As 2018 comes to an end, we’re taking a look back at some of the year’s highlights!
First, we kicked off 2018 with our annual Dance With Me Gala honoring long-time patrons Rose & Harry Papp, where we also announced the inaugural Hazel Hare Award of Artistic Excellence which was awarded to company dancers Jillian Barrell and Ethan Price.
Honorary Chairs Rose & Harry Papp and Executive Director Samantha Turner. Photo by Haute Photography.
Under the direction of Leonor Texidor, Ballet Arizona’s costume shop created 20 brand new couture tutu’s for Artistic Director Ib Andersen’s production of Cinderella!
Star Fairy Tutu being constructed.
We celebrated the Father of American Ballet at our annual production of All Balanchine at Symphony Hall, featuring George Balanchine’s works Symphony in Three Movements, Prodigal Son, and La Sonnambula.
Ballet Arizona dancers in “Symphony in Three Movements.” Choreography by George Balanchine. Photo by Alexander Iziliaev. © The Balanchine Trust.
In May, we returned to Desert Botanical Garden with the world premiere of Artistic Director Ib Andersen’s Eroica. Set to Beethoven’s Symphony No. 3, this ballet was a triumphant display of artistry and athleticism.
Ballet Arizona dancers in “Eroica.” Choreography by Ib Andersen. Photo by Tzu-Chia Huang.
Seven new dancers were welcomed into our company for our 2018-2019 season!
Ballet Arizona Company Dancers.
The company traveled across the Valley for our annual Ballet Under the Stars performances, with shows in Phoenix, Tempe, Fountain Hills, and Goodyear!
“Ballet Under the Stars” at Estrella Lakeside Amphitheater in Goodyear, AZ.
We brought New Moves to Orpheum Theatre in downtown Phoenix with the Arizona premiere of critically-acclaimed choreographer Justin Peck’s work In Creases, a new work, Inherent, by company dancer and budding choreographer Nayon Iovino, and of course Ib Andersen’s fan favorite piece Rio with music by Philip Glass.
Sasha Vincett, Ethan Price, Mimi Tompkins, and Ricardo Santos in “In Creases.” Choreography by Justin Peck. Photo by Alexander Iziliaev.
In October the iconic classical ballet, The Sleeping Beauty, made its return to the stage at Symphony Hall. Accompanied by Tchaikovsky’s illustrious score played by The Phoenix Symphony, children and adults were swept away by the beloved fairy tale.
Company Dancers in The Sleeping Beauty. From left to right: Songbird Fairy, Fairy of the Crystal Fountain, Fairy of the Golden Vine, Fairy of the Enchanted Garden, Fairy of the Woodland Glade. Choreography by Ib Andersen. Photo by Rosalie O’Connor.
This Fall, Ballet Arizona launched a new Education & Community Engagement program called danceAZ. We partnered with six under-served schools across the Valley and established mini-residency programs with our professional and studio company dancers, culminating in a final performance!
Students from Frontier Elementary in Peoria, AZ.
Last but not least, we just finished another wonderful year of The Nutcracker, along with our favorite holiday tradition Angel Night. After 15 incredible shows, we bid adieu to the Mouse King, Mother Ginger, and the Sugar Plum Fairy until next year!
Mother Ginger in Ballet Arizona’s production of The Nutcracker. Photo by Alexander Iziliaev.
Don’t forget to check out everything we have going on in 2019!
Return to main Ballet Arizona website
Thank you so much, dedicated staff and dancers, for all you do to make our Ballet the best! Being on the receiving end of your hard work is a true gift to our community and deeply appreciated.