Established in 2018, the award honors one male and one female dancer whose spirit echoes the strength, dedication, and passion that Hazel exemplified throughout her entire life.
A devoted supporter of Ballet Arizona since 1996, Hazel was a woman of remarkable character and unwavering love for ballet. Through her estate, the Hazel A.S. Hare Charitable Trust, she arranged a transformational gift, an endowment of more than $4 million. As the largest single gift in Ballet Arizona’s history, it will help sustain the artistry that inspired her for decades.
This year’s recipients were Leticia Endler and Luis Corrales, who were presented the award by Artistic Director, Daniela Cardim as part of our 2025 Dance With Me Gala.
Originally from Anápolis, Goiás, Brazil, Leticia joined the company in 2022 after a year in our Studio Company. Her repertoire includes Fredrick Ashton’s Les Patineurs, Ib Andersen’s Romeo & Juliet, Juan Gabriel, and Swan Lake, Christopher Wheeldon’s Within the Golden Hour, and most recently Annabelle Lopez Ochoa’s Frida.
“Leticia is such an intelligent dancer, who is starting to tap deeper into her artistry and it is incredible to watch,” says Cardim. “She is not scared to take risks on stage and has delivered what I can only call star quality performances during our runs of Swan Lake and Frida this season.”
Finishing his fifth season with the company, Luis began his ballet training in Havana, Cuba at the School of Ballet Alejo Carpentier and the Cuban National Ballet School, where he graduated with honors. Over the course of his career, some of his repertoire highlights include: The Sleeping Beauty, Le Corsair, Giselle, Don Quixote, Romeo & Juliet, Michael Descombey’s The Dying Swan, Pepe Hevia’s Carmen and El Eco de tu Adios, and Jiří Kylián’s Symphony in D.
“When I think of Luis, the words elegance, versatility and professionalism immediately come to mind. He has great potential and as we bring new repertory going forward, I am excited to see how he will develop as an artist,” says Cardim.
