Ballet Arizona

Please join us in wishing company dancer Demitra Bereveskos a happy birthday! 🎉🎂

Demitra first joined the Ballet Arizona Studio Company in 2018 and performed in The School of Ballet Arizona's production of "Swan Lake" and "Don Quixote" as well as in several Company productions.

She joined the Company for the 2019-20 Season and has since performed in various classical and contemporary roles, such as in "Romeo & Juliet," "The Nutcracker," and " "A Midsummer Night's Dream." In addition, she's performed in Ib Andersen's production of "The Four Seasons" and "Round: Reimagined" as well as in George Balanchine's "Serenade," "Bo***ée Fantasque" and "Stravinsky Violin Concerto."

From all of us here at Ballet Arizona, we hope you have a great birthday, Demitra!

📸 Demitra Bereveskos in George Balanchine's "Serenade." © The Balanchine Trust, photo by Rosalie O'Connor

Please join us in wishing Resident Choreographer and company dancer Nayon Iovino a happy birthday! 🎉🎂

Nayon has been with the company since 2012 and has performed in various classical and contemporary roles, such as "Cinderella," "Napoli," and "Swan Lake" as well as "Pacopepepluto," "Second To Last," and "In Creases." In addition, he's performed in Ib Andersen's "Round," "Topia," "Eroica," and "The Four Seasons" as well as in several of George Balanchine's works, such as "Slaughter on Tenth Avenue," "Bo***ée Fantasque," and “Prodigal Son."

From all of us here at Ballet Arizona, we hope you have a great birthday, Nayon!

📸 Nayon Iovino in George Balanchine's The Four Temperaments. © The Balanchine Trust, photo by Rosalie O'Connor

“This kind of detailed acting and character building is rare in ballet today and what really sets this production apart from others is the clarity of its storytelling.” - Dance View Times

Join us next week for an evening of dance at our Giselle Studio Spotlight. See our Artistic Staff lead the Company in rehearsal and hear from former Chief Dance Critic Alastair Macaulay. Afterwards, audience members can participate in a Q&A.

See what sets Ballet Arizona's production of Giselle apart from the rest. Don't miss Studio Spotlight January 27th at 7 pm - get your tickets today: https://balletaz.org/performance/studio-spotlight-2022-2023/

📸: Ballet Arizona dancers in rehearsal, photo by Tzu-Chia Huang

Setting the Stage: Act 2 of Giselle

From Giselle's pastorale French village to the misty glade of the Wilis, Act 2 is where we meet the venegeful spirits known as the Wilis, who lure unsuspecting men to their death.

Act 2
At Giselle’s grave, the despondent Hilarion keeps a moonlit vigil, holding a cross he fashioned himself. At midnight, the clearing is filled by Wilis, malevolent spirits left behind when young women were rejected by their lovers and died before their weddings. Tonight, they gather to welcome Giselle. The terrified Hilarion flees, fearing the legend he’s heard: that the Wilis and their queen, Myrtha, avenge their betrayals by luring men into a macabre dance until they die of exhaustion.

Albrecht arrives at Giselle’s grave, craving forgiveness. The Wilis have vanished, but Albrecht is amazed when Giselle’s ghost appears to him. She leads him from the glade as they hear Hilarion returning. But this time Hilarion is entrapped by the Wilis, who dance him to exhaustion and, at Myrtha’s command, drown him in the lake. The queen then dispatches her forces into the forest to hunt Albrecht.

Magically drawn into the Wilis’ circle, Albrecht faces the same gruesome fate as Hilarion, and, though Giselle’s love diminishes Myrtha’s power over Albrecht, the queen is able to force the couple to dance on and on into the night. When Albrecht finally collapses, Giselle sustains him until the church bell announces the dawn, the end of the Wilis’ power. The spirits vanish, Giselle returns to her grave, and only Albrecht remains, sorrowful and alone.

Don't miss at The Madison Center for the Arts February 9-12 - get your tickets today: https://bit.ly/Giselle23D

📸: Ballet Arizona dancers in Giselle, photos by Rosalie O'Connor

Setting the Stage: Act 1 of Giselle

Learn about one of the most beloved and romantic ballets of time, Giselle. This ballet initially premiered in 1841 in Paris and was originally inspired by Theophile Gautier's work, inspired by the Slavic legend of the wilis. Giselle is a story of love, betrayal, and forgiveness, filled with ghostly spirits, stunning costumes, and ethereal choreography that has stood the test of time.

Act I
Autumn brings the grape harvest to the valley where Berthe lives with her daughter, Giselle. Giselle is an innocent girl who loves to dance, despite having a weak heart. A cottage nearby is newly occupied by Loys, a peasant farmer who makes no secret of his romantic intentions toward Giselle; much to the fury of the village forester, Hilarion, who also loves her. Hilarion is suspicious of the mysterious Loys and tells Giselle as much, but
she dismisses his warning.

During preparations for the harvest celebration, the Duke of Courtland and his hunting party enter the village. In the group is the duke’s daughter, Bathilde. Giselle proudly tells Bathilde she is engaged to Loys. Bathilde reveals that she, too, is betrothed and presents Giselle with the gift of a necklace. While the duke and his daughter rest in Giselle’s cottage, Hilarion steals into Loys’ home. There he finds a sword bearing a royal crest: the sword of a nobleman.

As the celebration begins, Giselle is crowned Queen of the Harvest. But Hilarion interrupts the festival to expose Loys’ deception to the villagers and the duke’s party.

The stunned Bathilde tells everyone the man they know as Loys is actually Count Albrecht, her fiancé. Grief overwhelms Giselle. She goes mad and, her heart broken, dies in Albrecht’s arms.

See Giselle this February at Madison Center for the Arts - tickets: https://bit.ly/Giselle23D

“Faith is taking the first step even when you don't see the whole staircase.”
-Martin Luther King, Jr.

Today, we honor and celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. We appreciate his wisdom, leadership, and tenacity now more than ever.

In addition, Ballet Arizona offices will be closed today in observance of .

Dance with us! Company auditions for Ballet Arizona's 2023-24 Season will be held on February 19 in New York, NY and March 6 in Phoenix, AZ.

Ballet Arizona is the Southwest’s premier Ballet company offering classical and contemporary ballet performances and is dedicated to preserving and celebrating classical dance while creating and commissioning new innovative works.

Company, Apprentice and Trainee positions are available for the 2023-24 Season. For more information, head to our website: https://balletaz.org/mission/employment-auditions/

📸 by Rosalie O'Connor and Alexander Iziliaev

Celebrating National Marzipan Day with a throwback to one of our favorite divertissments 🍬

What was your favorite part of The Nutcracker? Let us know down below!

📸 Cheyenne You, Alison Remmers, and Rachel Gehr in The Nutcracker, photo by Rosalie O'Connor

It's time for some Tuesday Trivia! Learn about what the Wilis are and how they got their name!

Giselle is known for its iconic second act, also known as a "white act," which includes white costumes and scenery representing spirits or a dream-like state. In Giselle, the dancers, known as Wilis, float into Act 2 with white romantic tutus and veils. Now, as spirits, they force any men they find to dance to their deaths before the day comes.

The name "Wili" has Slavic origins, coming from the stories of night dancers who were young brides-to-be who died before their wedding day, arising from the grave still dressed in their wedding gowns. The phrase "getting the wi***es" is thought to come from Giselle as well.

See the Wilis for yourself in Giselle at The Madison Center for the Arts this Valentine's weekend - get your tickets today: https://bit.ly/Giselle23D

📸: Ballet Arizona dancers in Giselle, photos by Rosalie O'Connor

We're officially one month away from Opening Night of Giselle!

Our dancers are back in the studio to prepare for our next production, this time at our newest venue, The Madison Center for the Arts. Join us for an unforgettable tale of love and heartbreak this Valentine's Day weekend.

Giselle tells the tragic yet passionate story of a lovely young woman who dies of a broken heart. The ballet is famous for the Wilis, maiden spirits who take revenge on the young nobleman that betrayed Giselle. Achingly beautiful, Giselle is an enrapturing work of art that draws audiences in with themes of enduring love, tragedy and romance.

Get your tickets today: https://bit.ly/Giselle23D

📸: Ballet dancers in Giselle, photos by Rosalie O'Connor.

Save the Date! Join us for Studio Spotlight, where you can take a look behind the scenes of our February production, Giselle.

When: January 27th at 7 pm
Where: Dorrance Theatre
Cost: $30

Before the event, audience members will get a chance to hear from special guest Alastair Macaulay, former Chief Dance Critic for The New York Times, who will speak on the history of Giselle and its importance to ballet.

Then, audience members will get a look behind the curtain at a full rehearsal, led by a member of our Artistic Staff. They will discuss the creative process of getting a full-length storybook ballet from the studio to the stage. Afterwards, audience members can participate in a Q&A.

Tickets: https://balletaz.org/performance/studio-spotlight-2022-2023/

📸: Ib Andersen instructing Ballet Arizona dancers, photo by Rosalie O'Connor

Talk books with us!

Join us in two weeks on January 18, 2023, for "Dancing Past the Light," by Orel Protopopescu. This book cinematically illuminates the glamorous and moving life story of Tanaquil “Tanny” Le Clercq (1929‒2000), one of the most celebrated ballerinas of the twentieth century. Learn about her brilliant stage career, her struggle with polio, and her important work as a dance teacher, coach, photographer, and writer.

Book Club is free to join and held on Zoom! Learn more and to pick up your copy today: https://balletaz.org/ballet-arizona-book-club/

From the Rosin Box is a monthly feature from our Community Engagement team discussing the history of ballet. This month, Ballet Arizona is celebrating the birthday of America’s Prima Ballerina, Maria Tallchief.

In 1925, Elizabeth Marie Tallchief was born in Fairfax, Oklahoma on the Osage Indian Reservation. She would eventually become known as Maria Tallchief, one of the leading prima ballerinas of her time.

Tallchief’s mother had always dreamed of being a dancer but could never afford lessons for herself, so after getting married and having daughters of her own, she enrolled them in ballet classes. Maria started taking ballet lessons at just 3 years old.

At age 8, she and her family moved to California, where she continued her training under Ernest Belcher. Under his instruction, she learned tap and acrobatics, though ballet remained her main focus.

As she got older, Tallchief furthered her ballet studies under Bronislava Nijinska, and at age 17, she moved to New York City to join Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo. George Balanchine was soon brought to this company as a guest choreographer and cast her in several prominent roles, helping her develop her ballet technique even further.

When her contract expired, she followed him to Paris where he was temporarily working with the Paris Opera Ballet. She became the first American to ever perform with the Paris Opera Ballet.

After returning to the U.S., she became the first prima ballerina of the New York City Ballet, where Balanchine created title roles for her, such as "The Firebird."

She remained with the company for nearly two decades before joining the American Ballet Theatre. She then taught ballet in Chicago and founded the Chicago City Ballet with her sister, Marjorie.
In 2012, Tallchief passed away due to complications from a hip injury. She was posthumously inducted into the National Women’s Hall of Fame in 2018.

Watch Maria Tallchief perform the Firebird here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0y_tWR07F7Y

As a reminder, the Ballet Arizona office and Box Office will be closed today in observance of New Year's Day. We look forward to starting off the new year and seeing everyone tomorrow!

Behind the Curtain: An Interview with Clara (Isabella Guzman)

On the last day of 2022, we have our last interview of The Nutcracker!

The School of Ballet Arizona student, Isabella Guzman, talks about what it was like to work with the Company, what The Nutcracker means to her, and how dance has impacted her life.

Help us keep the magic going in 2023! Make your tax-deductible gift by tonight, December 31st, and help us keep making magical moments that bring your imagination to life: balletaz.org/donate

Watch: https://youtu.be/IgjDLimsa0c

Behind the Curtain: An Interview with Clara (Isabella Guzman) On the last day of 2022, we have our last interview of The Nutcracker!The School of Ballet Arizona student, Isabella Guzman, talks about what it was like to ...

Behind the Curtain: An Interview with Clara (Madalyn Paltzik)

The Nutcracker might be over, but you can still help us keep the magic going ✨

The School of Ballet Arizona student, Madalyn Paltzik, talks about what The Nutcracker and ballet mean to her, plus her experience being Clara as well as working with her siblings during the show.

It takes one person, one performance, one class, to spark magic in us all. Make your tax-deductible gift by December 31st and help us keep making magical moments that bring imagination to life: balletaz.org/donate/

Watch: https://youtu.be/Baqbsx5UlFc

Behind the Curtain: An Interview with Clara (Madalyn Paltzik) The Nutcracker might be over, but you can still help us keep the magic going!The School of Ballet Arizona student, Madalyn Paltzik, talks about what The Nutc...

We are thrilled to announce that we have been awarded $600,000 by the office of Governor Doug Ducey through the American Rescue Plan Act, which is working to provide nonprofit organizations across the country with COVID-19 relief funding.

“We are beyond grateful to Governor Ducey and his entire office for their continued support of the arts and Ballet Arizona,” said Jami Kozemczak, Ballet Arizona Executive Director. “The coronavirus pandemic was a devastating time for everyone, and arts organizations were also among those deeply affected. We still have yet to recover fully to 2019 numbers in terms of attendance and revenue, so this funding could not come at a more critical time as it truly gives us the runway we need to recover, rebuild, and position ourselves for growth.”

“This funding is a testament to the belief that arts organizations are a crucial component of our community,” said Artistic Director Ib Andersen. "During the pandemic, we turned to the arts to sustain us, heal us and keep our spirits alive. We consumed music, literature, and digital performances in order to find respite through entertainment. The arts provide joy and inspiration and are a necessary part of healthy and vibrant communities. We are deeply grateful to Governor’s Office and the State of Arizona.”

Read the full press release here: https://balletaz.org/news/ballet-arizona-awarded-600000-by-governor-doug-ducey/

📸: Ballet Arizona dancers in The Nutcracker, photo by Rosalie O'Connor

Happy birthday to Ballet Mistress, Lisbet Companioni! 🎉🎂

Before joining Ballet Arizona, Lisbet danced with Ballet de Camagüey under Fernando Alonso, performing works such as "Don Quixote," "Dracula," "La Bayadère," "La Fille mal gardée," "Napoli," and "The Three Musketeers."

In 2001, she joined the company as a dancer and originated featured roles in Ib Andersen’s "2B," "Elevations," "Mosaik" and "Play." In addition, she performed in Twyla Tharp’s "Sinatra Suite," "The Golden Section" and "Company B," as well as George Balanchine’s "Agon," "Apollo," "Allegro Brillante," "Serenade," and "Theme and Variations."

Once she retired in 2008, she joined the company as Ballet Mistress and began teaching at The School of Ballet Arizona. We appreciate everything Lisbet has done and could not imagine the company without her!

From all of us here at Ballet Arizona, we wish her the happiest of birthdays!

📸: Photos by Rosalie O'Connor, Tzu-Chia Huang

Happy Holidays ❄️✨

Our dancers, Studio Company, students and staff are taking a well-deserved break and will be back in the new year. We hope you all have a safe and happy holiday season!

Today's our final performance of 💔

On this last day of Nutcracker, we're looking back at some of our favorite photos by from Opening Weekend!

Are you going to be at the show today? Be sure to tag us in your photos and videos and we'll reshare our favorites! (As a reminder, please do not record during the show itself!)

📸: Ballet Arizona dancers in , photos by

THANK YOU!

We are thrilled to announce that we have sold out all remaining performances of . This unprecedented response makes this year our best-selling run of all time. This would not have been possible without your generous support!

From the bottom of our hearts, thank you!

📸: Ballet Arizona dancers in The Nutcracker, photo by Rosalie O'Connor

Behind the Curtain: An Interview with Clara (Elizabeth Francis)

Take a peek behind the curtain and meet one of our Claras, The School of Ballet Arizona student, Elizabeth Francis ✨

We got to sit down and ask Elizabeth about her favorite part about being Clara, what she wants to be when she grows up, and why she enjoys The Nutcracker so much.

For our last week of shows, we'll be highlighting the kids behind the classic; you'll meet our Claras and Nutcracker Princes and see why they do what they do.

Don't miss seeing Elizabeth on stage with The Phoenix Symphony at Symphony Hall - Phoenix Get your tickets today at balletaz.org.

Watch: https://youtu.be/faRGOPgYFkI

Behind the Curtain: An Interview with Clara (Elizabeth Francis) Meet one of our Claras, Elizabeth Francis. Clara is one of the stars of the holiday classic, The Nutcracker, and we got to sit down and ask her about her fav...