A Letter from the Executive Director, Jami Kozemczak
Thank you for being part of our 2025–2026 Season. Because of you, Ballet Arizona continues to ignite the human spirit through the magic of dance. Your generosity makes every performance, every student experience, and every moment of inspiration possible.
As we reflect on the past year, one theme rises above all others: collaboration. It is the driving force behind our continued growth, innovation, and impact.
This season, our partnership with The Phoenix Symphony exemplifies what is possible when two performing arts institutions come together in pursuit of excellence. Their world-class musicians bring our performances to life, elevating our art form in a way that is truly unmatched.
That spirit of collaboration is reflected in our ongoing partnership with the Phoenix Youth Symphony Orchestras, led in part by our conductor, Matthew Kasper, who also serves as PYSO’s Artistic Director. Together, he and Rehearsal Director, Maria Simonetti, have created meaningful opportunities for young musicians and dancers to share the stage, gaining invaluable experience through collaboration and learn from one another.
This work has also received national recognition at the World Wide Women’s Film Festival, where a short film celebrating women artists earned the 2026 Audience Choice Award. As Kasper reflects, this collaboration offers “an unparalleled experience…to present something truly remarkable to the community. It is my hope this collaboration can serve as a blueprint for companies and youth orchestras across the country to bring something this unique to their communities.”
Our commitment to education is equally rooted in partnership. For more than 35 years, we have worked alongside Arizona School for the Arts, providing students with access to professional expertise and mentorship that extends beyond the classroom. As Executive Director David Lujan shares, this collaboration “enriches our dance program in profound ways…broadening students’ horizons and elevating their experience.” These partnerships ensure that students are not only introduced to dance, but are supported as they grow within it.
We are also expanding how and where dance is experienced through our collaboration with Desert Botanical Garden. What began as a bold artistic vision has evolved into something distinctly Arizonan. As the Garden’s President & CEO Chris Kline notes, this partnership creates moments “bigger than either institution could deliver alone, bringing art, nature, and community together in ways that inspire people and strengthen Arizona’s cultural fabric.” Within this setting, ballet becomes inseparable from its surroundings, shaped as much by the environment as the movement itself.
These collaborations extend far beyond the stage. Through partnerships with 17 local school districts and six municipalities, we provide dance education and performances in communities where access has been limited. Our Angel Night program works with more than 80 nonprofit organizations, ensuring that individuals and families across the Valley can experience the joy of live performance.
Collaboration requires trust, shared vision, and a willingness to think beyond what is possible alone. Because of you, we continue to build partnerships that strengthen Arizona’s cultural landscape—creating opportunities for connection, creativity, and growth.
And together, we will keep rising.
