Established in 2018, the award honors two dancers each season, 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 Madison Penney and Alli Chester, who were presented the award by Artistic Director, Daniela Cardim as part of our 2026 Dance With Me Gala.
Madison, an Arizona native, began her training at a young age and committed to ballet by age 8. She quickly earned international recognition, receiving top honors at competitions including the World Ballet Competition and Youth America Grand Prix. She later trained at The Royal Ballet School in London, graduating in 2022, before dancing with Birmingham Royal Ballet and Atlanta Ballet, where she performed soloist roles. Now back in her home state, Madison continues her artistic growth with Ballet Arizona.
“Madison has stepped up, jumping into a principal role she had not been casted for initially. She was able to grow in the role and deliver beautiful performances. There is still a lot of room for growth for this dancer, so I hope this prize will not only acknowledge her accomplishments but also encourage her to keep working hard and developing as an artist,” says Cardim.
Alli, also from the Phoenix area, began her training with The School of Ballet Arizona at age 12 and later continued at Houston Ballet Academy’s Professional Program. She returned to Ballet Arizona in 2020 to dance with the Studio Company. She accepted a contract with the Company in 2021 and performed a wide range of classical and contemporary repertoire over five seasons. She took her final bow in March during “Cacti & Other Works” at the Orpheum Theatre.
“Alli is an extremely versatile dancer, and for this reason is are casted in almost every Ballet we do, whether classical or contemporary. This makes her incredibly valuable to the company. She is also a very good team player, always bringing a positive energy to the group, and this is so important,” says Cardim.
