Ballet Arizona’s 2023-2024 Season
Contemporary Council
Contemporary Council Officers
Anya Borshch
Chairwoman
Anya is a 15-year veteran of the retail industry. She has worked in a leadership capacity in both big-box and niche, luxury retailers. She loves the fast-paced environment and working with her teams to create amazing moments for their customers. She’s a sales-driven business manager, having completed both her Bachelor's and Master of Business Administration at W.P. Carey School of Business at Arizona State University.
Anya’s love for the ballet started when she was three. Being a native of Russia, it was all around when she was young. It continued into her adult years, as she took classes herself and attended Ballet Arizona performances. She is thrilled to be a part of the Ballet Arizona family.
Anya Borshch
Chairwoman
Anya is a 15-year veteran of the retail industry. She has worked in a leadership capacity in both big-box and niche, luxury retailers. She loves the fast-paced environment and working with her teams to create amazing moments for their customers. She’s a sales-driven business manager, having completed both her Bachelor's and Master of Business Administration at W.P. Carey School of Business at Arizona State University.
Anya’s love for the ballet started when she was three. Being a native of Russia, it was all around when she was young. It continued into her adult years, as she took classes herself and attended Ballet Arizona performances. She is thrilled to be a part of the Ballet Arizona family.
Anya Borshch
Chairwoman
Anya is a 15-year veteran of the retail industry. She has worked in a leadership capacity in both big-box and niche, luxury retailers. She loves the fast-paced environment and working with her teams to create amazing moments for their customers. She’s a sales-driven business manager, having completed both her Bachelor's and Master of Business Administration at W.P. Carey School of Business at Arizona State University.
Anya’s love for the ballet started when she was three. Being a native of Russia, it was all around when she was young. It continued into her adult years, as she took classes herself and attended Ballet Arizona performances. She is thrilled to be a part of the Ballet Arizona family.
Norma Gutierrez
Vice Chair
Norma is a Corporate Recruiter at U-Haul International. She is an established recruitment and business professional, passionate about partnering with organizations to solve complex business problems. She strives to improve organizational experiences and loyalty through talent management strategies. Outside of her professional endeavors, she is an avid cellist, a connoisseur of local confectioneries, and a devoted patron of live arts events.
From an early age, she developed a love and appreciation for ballet and the performing arts. She took ballet classes as a child and, after finding out she had two left feet, she translated this love to her cello pieces. She’s grateful to continue utilizing her background and contributing to the success of Ballet Arizona.
Norma Gutierrez
Vice Chair
Norma is a Corporate Recruiter at U-Haul International. She is an established recruitment and business professional, passionate about partnering with organizations to solve complex business problems. She strives to improve organizational experiences and loyalty through talent management strategies. Outside of her professional endeavors, she is an avid cellist, a connoisseur of local confectioneries, and a devoted patron of live arts events.
From an early age, she developed a love and appreciation for ballet and the performing arts. She took ballet classes as a child and, after finding out she had two left feet, she translated this love to her cello pieces. She’s grateful to continue utilizing her background and contributing to the success of Ballet Arizona.
Norma Gutierrez
Vice Chair
Norma is a Corporate Recruiter at U-Haul International. She is an established recruitment and business professional, passionate about partnering with organizations to solve complex business problems. She strives to improve organizational experiences and loyalty through talent management strategies. Outside of her professional endeavors, she is an avid cellist, a connoisseur of local confectioneries, and a devoted patron of live arts events.
From an early age, she developed a love and appreciation for ballet and the performing arts. She took ballet classes as a child and, after finding out she had two left feet, she translated this love to her cello pieces. She’s grateful to continue utilizing her background and contributing to the success of Ballet Arizona.
Dani McCune
Secretary
Bio coming soon!
Dani McCune
Secretary
Bio coming soon!
Joseph Palomino
Treasurer
Bio coming soon...
Joseph Palomino
Treasurer
Bio coming soon...
Contemporary Council Members
Julie Anderson
Julie Anderson is the grants coordinator at the Flinn Foundation, a philanthropic grantmaking organization dedicated to improving the quality of life in Arizona to benefit future generations. She is responsible for the administration and programming of grant-related activities, specifically in the areas of bioscience and arts & culture. She received a BS in Journalism from Northern Arizona University.
Living in Arizona most of her life, Julie grew up attending and performing in productions at several theatres and performing arts centers throughout the Valley. She recalls fond memories of seeing many Ballet Arizona performances during her childhood and is thrilled to become more involved with the organization through the Council.
In her free time, Julie enjoys traveling and exploring Arizona’s countless restaurants and breweries.
Julie Anderson
Julie Anderson is the grants coordinator at the Flinn Foundation, a philanthropic grantmaking organization dedicated to improving the quality of life in Arizona to benefit future generations. She is responsible for the administration and programming of grant-related activities, specifically in the areas of bioscience and arts & culture. She received a BS in Journalism from Northern Arizona University.
Living in Arizona most of her life, Julie grew up attending and performing in productions at several theatres and performing arts centers throughout the Valley. She recalls fond memories of seeing many Ballet Arizona performances during her childhood and is thrilled to become more involved with the organization through the Council.
In her free time, Julie enjoys traveling and exploring Arizona’s countless restaurants and breweries.
Julie Anderson
Julie Anderson is the grants coordinator at the Flinn Foundation, a philanthropic grantmaking organization dedicated to improving the quality of life in Arizona to benefit future generations. She is responsible for the administration and programming of grant-related activities, specifically in the areas of bioscience and arts & culture. She received a BS in Journalism from Northern Arizona University.
Living in Arizona most of her life, Julie grew up attending and performing in productions at several theatres and performing arts centers throughout the Valley. She recalls fond memories of seeing many Ballet Arizona performances during her childhood and is thrilled to become more involved with the organization through the Council.
In her free time, Julie enjoys traveling and exploring Arizona’s countless restaurants and breweries.
Rochelle Belsito
From: Phoenix, Arizona
Rochelle Belsito has spent more than 15 years of her career working as a magazine editor, with 12 of those years dedicated to publications in the fine art industry. She also had a brief stint as a public relations senior account executive, where she broadened her professional knowledge. Currently, she is the editor-in-chief of a magazine focused on artwork of and from the Southwest. She received her bachelor’s degree in English, with a concentration in linguistics, from Arizona State University.
Her interest in arts and culture began in childhood with ballet. She was a dedicated dancer throughout her youth and spent her high school years training in the student division of a professional ballet company. Today she is driven by promoting the beauty and wonder of the arts to a wider audience.
Rochelle Belsito
From: Phoenix, Arizona
Rochelle Belsito has spent more than 15 years of her career working as a magazine editor, with 12 of those years dedicated to publications in the fine art industry. She also had a brief stint as a public relations senior account executive, where she broadened her professional knowledge. Currently, she is the editor-in-chief of a magazine focused on artwork of and from the Southwest. She received her bachelor’s degree in English, with a concentration in linguistics, from Arizona State University.
Her interest in arts and culture began in childhood with ballet. She was a dedicated dancer throughout her youth and spent her high school years training in the student division of a professional ballet company. Today she is driven by promoting the beauty and wonder of the arts to a wider audience.
Rochelle Belsito
From: Phoenix, Arizona
Rochelle Belsito has spent more than 15 years of her career working as a magazine editor, with 12 of those years dedicated to publications in the fine art industry. She also had a brief stint as a public relations senior account executive, where she broadened her professional knowledge. Currently, she is the editor-in-chief of a magazine focused on artwork of and from the Southwest. She received her bachelor’s degree in English, with a concentration in linguistics, from Arizona State University.
Her interest in arts and culture began in childhood with ballet. She was a dedicated dancer throughout her youth and spent her high school years training in the student division of a professional ballet company. Today she is driven by promoting the beauty and wonder of the arts to a wider audience.
Lindsay Danto
Growing up in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, Lindsay was passionate about dance and the arts from a very young age, immersing herself in various classes throughout her childhood. Inspired by her aunt, who was a soloist and principal dancer across several ballet companies on the east coast and Europe, Lindsay developed an understanding and appreciation of the societal impact of the art of dance, and its unique ability to unite people of all cultures and backgrounds. Motivated by her family’s philanthropic involvement with the Sarasota Ballet and the profound impact it had on making ballet accessible to disadvantaged communities, she felt compelled to follow in their footsteps. Upon graduating from Boston University, Lindsay delved into the fashion world and launched a self-titled collection of handbags and accessories which went on to garner recognition from British Vogue, Condé Nast, and Glamour Magazines. In 2015, she put that aside to focus on raising her twin daughters, new business endeavors, traveling, and carrying on her family’s legacy of supporting the arts and sciences.
Lindsay Danto
Growing up in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, Lindsay was passionate about dance and the arts from a very young age, immersing herself in various classes throughout her childhood. Inspired by her aunt, who was a soloist and principal dancer across several ballet companies on the east coast and Europe, Lindsay developed an understanding and appreciation of the societal impact of the art of dance, and its unique ability to unite people of all cultures and backgrounds. Motivated by her family’s philanthropic involvement with the Sarasota Ballet and the profound impact it had on making ballet accessible to disadvantaged communities, she felt compelled to follow in their footsteps. Upon graduating from Boston University, Lindsay delved into the fashion world and launched a self-titled collection of handbags and accessories which went on to garner recognition from British Vogue, Condé Nast, and Glamour Magazines. In 2015, she put that aside to focus on raising her twin daughters, new business endeavors, traveling, and carrying on her family’s legacy of supporting the arts and sciences.
Lindsay Danto
Growing up in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, Lindsay was passionate about dance and the arts from a very young age, immersing herself in various classes throughout her childhood. Inspired by her aunt, who was a soloist and principal dancer across several ballet companies on the east coast and Europe, Lindsay developed an understanding and appreciation of the societal impact of the art of dance, and its unique ability to unite people of all cultures and backgrounds. Motivated by her family’s philanthropic involvement with the Sarasota Ballet and the profound impact it had on making ballet accessible to disadvantaged communities, she felt compelled to follow in their footsteps. Upon graduating from Boston University, Lindsay delved into the fashion world and launched a self-titled collection of handbags and accessories which went on to garner recognition from British Vogue, Condé Nast, and Glamour Magazines. In 2015, she put that aside to focus on raising her twin daughters, new business endeavors, traveling, and carrying on her family’s legacy of supporting the arts and sciences.
Jamie Brooke Forseth
Jamie Brooke Forseth has held leadership roles across U.S. public finance, defense, and diplomacy. Today she is head of research and business strategy at Tower Bay Asset Management, an alternative asset manager specializing in the $4 trillion U.S. municipal bond market. Her prior public finance roles include head of research at a credit hedge fund and lead strategist on Goldman Sachs’ municipal bond trading desk. She previously served as the director of global strategy and senior advisor to the Secretary of the Air Force at the Pentagon and the Ambassador’s personal chief of staff at the U.S. Embassy in Finland.
A native Arizonan, Forseth danced at Ballet Arizona while a student at Arizona School for the Arts. She went on to earn five degrees in five years from Arizona State University (bachelor’s degrees in violin performance, political science, English literature, and integrated Polish studies as well as a Master’s degree in political theory). She also holds an MBA from the Yale School of Management. She has performed solo violin for a U.S. President, Secretary of State, and Supreme Court Justice, but today is most at ease in the audience of performing arts organizations like Ballet Arizona.
Jamie Brooke Forseth
Jamie Brooke Forseth has held leadership roles across U.S. public finance, defense, and diplomacy. Today she is head of research and business strategy at Tower Bay Asset Management, an alternative asset manager specializing in the $4 trillion U.S. municipal bond market. Her prior public finance roles include head of research at a credit hedge fund and lead strategist on Goldman Sachs’ municipal bond trading desk. She previously served as the director of global strategy and senior advisor to the Secretary of the Air Force at the Pentagon and the Ambassador’s personal chief of staff at the U.S. Embassy in Finland.
A native Arizonan, Forseth danced at Ballet Arizona while a student at Arizona School for the Arts. She went on to earn five degrees in five years from Arizona State University (bachelor’s degrees in violin performance, political science, English literature, and integrated Polish studies as well as a Master’s degree in political theory). She also holds an MBA from the Yale School of Management. She has performed solo violin for a U.S. President, Secretary of State, and Supreme Court Justice, but today is most at ease in the audience of performing arts organizations like Ballet Arizona.
Jamie Brooke Forseth
Jamie Brooke Forseth has held leadership roles across U.S. public finance, defense, and diplomacy. Today she is head of research and business strategy at Tower Bay Asset Management, an alternative asset manager specializing in the $4 trillion U.S. municipal bond market. Her prior public finance roles include head of research at a credit hedge fund and lead strategist on Goldman Sachs’ municipal bond trading desk. She previously served as the director of global strategy and senior advisor to the Secretary of the Air Force at the Pentagon and the Ambassador’s personal chief of staff at the U.S. Embassy in Finland.
A native Arizonan, Forseth danced at Ballet Arizona while a student at Arizona School for the Arts. She went on to earn five degrees in five years from Arizona State University (bachelor’s degrees in violin performance, political science, English literature, and integrated Polish studies as well as a Master’s degree in political theory). She also holds an MBA from the Yale School of Management. She has performed solo violin for a U.S. President, Secretary of State, and Supreme Court Justice, but today is most at ease in the audience of performing arts organizations like Ballet Arizona.
Kathryn Preston
Bio coming soon!
Serena Remy
Serena Remy is a passionate art and creative culture advocate who has lived in the beautiful state of Arizona for the majority of her life. She serves as the Vice President of Marketing and Communications at the Greater Phoenix Economic Council (GPEC) where she leads the MarComm team and corresponding strategies, building awareness of Greater Phoenix and driving business leads for the region.
Serena focuses on building a holistic brand identity with conversion-focused marketing strategies through user-first content and data-driven optimizations. Since joining GPEC in 2019 as Director of Digital Marketing, she has elevated the organization’s marketing sophistication by establishing trigger-based lead generation campaigns, optimizing digital content for user experience across channels, and launching GPEC’s first omnichannel campaign #AZFreeToBe, which was recognized for excellence in integrated marketing by the AzAPA, AMA, PRSA, AZIMA, Ragan and MarCom Awards. Most recently in 2022 under Serena’s leadership, GPEC’s marketing team was recognized for website design and interactivity with an AZIMA TIM Award for Mastery in website design and Gold Award in Interactive Capabilities by the Dot Comm Awards.
Serena developed her love for ballet at a young age, following along outside her sister’s YMCA classes before she was old enough to join. She later had the honor of studying under Nina Marlow and Slawomir Wozniak and performing roles in The Nutcracker and Coppélia before pursuing and graduating with a BFA in Studio Arts from the Herberger Institute at ASU. In her free time, she enjoys tending to her little historic home in Garfield, (26&2) hot yoga, ballet, sewing, gardening, supporting local businesses, and discovering new works and artists.
Serena Remy
Serena Remy is a passionate art and creative culture advocate who has lived in the beautiful state of Arizona for the majority of her life. She serves as the Vice President of Marketing and Communications at the Greater Phoenix Economic Council (GPEC) where she leads the MarComm team and corresponding strategies, building awareness of Greater Phoenix and driving business leads for the region.
Serena focuses on building a holistic brand identity with conversion-focused marketing strategies through user-first content and data-driven optimizations. Since joining GPEC in 2019 as Director of Digital Marketing, she has elevated the organization’s marketing sophistication by establishing trigger-based lead generation campaigns, optimizing digital content for user experience across channels, and launching GPEC’s first omnichannel campaign #AZFreeToBe, which was recognized for excellence in integrated marketing by the AzAPA, AMA, PRSA, AZIMA, Ragan and MarCom Awards. Most recently in 2022 under Serena’s leadership, GPEC’s marketing team was recognized for website design and interactivity with an AZIMA TIM Award for Mastery in website design and Gold Award in Interactive Capabilities by the Dot Comm Awards.
Serena developed her love for ballet at a young age, following along outside her sister’s YMCA classes before she was old enough to join. She later had the honor of studying under Nina Marlow and Slawomir Wozniak and performing roles in The Nutcracker and Coppélia before pursuing and graduating with a BFA in Studio Arts from the Herberger Institute at ASU. In her free time, she enjoys tending to her little historic home in Garfield, (26&2) hot yoga, ballet, sewing, gardening, supporting local businesses, and discovering new works and artists.
Serena Remy
Serena Remy is a passionate art and creative culture advocate who has lived in the beautiful state of Arizona for the majority of her life. She serves as the Vice President of Marketing and Communications at the Greater Phoenix Economic Council (GPEC) where she leads the MarComm team and corresponding strategies, building awareness of Greater Phoenix and driving business leads for the region.
Serena focuses on building a holistic brand identity with conversion-focused marketing strategies through user-first content and data-driven optimizations. Since joining GPEC in 2019 as Director of Digital Marketing, she has elevated the organization’s marketing sophistication by establishing trigger-based lead generation campaigns, optimizing digital content for user experience across channels, and launching GPEC’s first omnichannel campaign #AZFreeToBe, which was recognized for excellence in integrated marketing by the AzAPA, AMA, PRSA, AZIMA, Ragan and MarCom Awards. Most recently in 2022 under Serena’s leadership, GPEC’s marketing team was recognized for website design and interactivity with an AZIMA TIM Award for Mastery in website design and Gold Award in Interactive Capabilities by the Dot Comm Awards.
Serena developed her love for ballet at a young age, following along outside her sister’s YMCA classes before she was old enough to join. She later had the honor of studying under Nina Marlow and Slawomir Wozniak and performing roles in The Nutcracker and Coppélia before pursuing and graduating with a BFA in Studio Arts from the Herberger Institute at ASU. In her free time, she enjoys tending to her little historic home in Garfield, (26&2) hot yoga, ballet, sewing, gardening, supporting local businesses, and discovering new works and artists.
Jordyn Siegfried
Jordyn Siegfried is a professional dancer for the NBA Phoenix Suns. She performs on the court to pieces by nationally renowned choreographers, such as Tyce Diorio, Lacey Schwimmer, and Matt Steffanina. She has performed alongside famous performers such as Coolio, Lupe Fiasco, and Lumidee. Off the court, she represents the Suns Organization through many community and philanthropic events year-round.
When the pom pons are put away, she is in demand as a Pilates Instructor. With over 500 hours of certification and a background in Physical Therapy, she trains and rehabs clients in person on the Pilates Reformer machine or virtually at home. She also serves clients through her online Pilates membership service.
Jordyn received her BFA in Dance from Arizona State University, Summa Cum Laude from Barrett, the Honors College where her Thesis work centered around knee rehabilitation of dancers in her program. As a dancer in the Phoenix area, and a former ballet dancer herself, she is honored to serve on Ballet Arizona’s Contemporary Council.
Jordyn Siegfried
Jordyn Siegfried is a professional dancer for the NBA Phoenix Suns. She performs on the court to pieces by nationally renowned choreographers, such as Tyce Diorio, Lacey Schwimmer, and Matt Steffanina. She has performed alongside famous performers such as Coolio, Lupe Fiasco, and Lumidee. Off the court, she represents the Suns Organization through many community and philanthropic events year-round.
When the pom pons are put away, she is in demand as a Pilates Instructor. With over 500 hours of certification and a background in Physical Therapy, she trains and rehabs clients in person on the Pilates Reformer machine or virtually at home. She also serves clients through her online Pilates membership service.
Jordyn received her BFA in Dance from Arizona State University, Summa Cum Laude from Barrett, the Honors College where her Thesis work centered around knee rehabilitation of dancers in her program. As a dancer in the Phoenix area, and a former ballet dancer herself, she is honored to serve on Ballet Arizona’s Contemporary Council.
Jordyn Siegfried
Jordyn Siegfried is a professional dancer for the NBA Phoenix Suns. She performs on the court to pieces by nationally renowned choreographers, such as Tyce Diorio, Lacey Schwimmer, and Matt Steffanina. She has performed alongside famous performers such as Coolio, Lupe Fiasco, and Lumidee. Off the court, she represents the Suns Organization through many community and philanthropic events year-round.
When the pom pons are put away, she is in demand as a Pilates Instructor. With over 500 hours of certification and a background in Physical Therapy, she trains and rehabs clients in person on the Pilates Reformer machine or virtually at home. She also serves clients through her online Pilates membership service.
Jordyn received her BFA in Dance from Arizona State University, Summa Cum Laude from Barrett, the Honors College where her Thesis work centered around knee rehabilitation of dancers in her program. As a dancer in the Phoenix area, and a former ballet dancer herself, she is honored to serve on Ballet Arizona’s Contemporary Council.
Eleanor Umphres
Eleanor is an attorney and Captain in the United States Air Force Judge Advocate General’s Corps, serving as Area Defense Counsel on Luke Air Force Base. She achieved a BA in International Affairs and Politics in Bruxelles, Belgium; a master’s in Social Work from Columbia University; and a J.D. from Georgetown Law.
Eleanor was trained classically at the Dallas Metropolitan Ballet. She spent summers at the School of American Ballet, American Ballet Theatre in New York, San Francisco Ballet, and Pacific Northwest Ballet. She danced professionally with the Sacramento Ballet from 2004-2006 and is thrilled to support Ballet Arizona as a member of the Contemporary Council.
Eleanor Umphres
Eleanor is an attorney and Captain in the United States Air Force Judge Advocate General’s Corps, serving as Area Defense Counsel on Luke Air Force Base. She achieved a BA in International Affairs and Politics in Bruxelles, Belgium; a master’s in Social Work from Columbia University; and a J.D. from Georgetown Law.
Eleanor was trained classically at the Dallas Metropolitan Ballet. She spent summers at the School of American Ballet, American Ballet Theatre in New York, San Francisco Ballet, and Pacific Northwest Ballet. She danced professionally with the Sacramento Ballet from 2004-2006 and is thrilled to support Ballet Arizona as a member of the Contemporary Council.
Eleanor Umphres
Eleanor is an attorney and Captain in the United States Air Force Judge Advocate General’s Corps, serving as Area Defense Counsel on Luke Air Force Base. She achieved a BA in International Affairs and Politics in Bruxelles, Belgium; a master’s in Social Work from Columbia University; and a J.D. from Georgetown Law.
Eleanor was trained classically at the Dallas Metropolitan Ballet. She spent summers at the School of American Ballet, American Ballet Theatre in New York, San Francisco Ballet, and Pacific Northwest Ballet. She danced professionally with the Sacramento Ballet from 2004-2006 and is thrilled to support Ballet Arizona as a member of the Contemporary Council.
About the Contemporary Council
The Ballet Arizona Contemporary Council, Ballet Arizona’s junior board was formed by young leaders in Phoenix to reach a new population of community members and cultivate a passion for art and dance.
The Contemporary Council believes that one performance can change lives. The Council supports Ballet Arizona to foster the growth of a new generation of patrons of the ballet through creative fundraising, education, volunteering, and awareness.
To support this mission, The Contemporary Council creates exciting engagement and fundraising events for Ballet Barre Young Professionals’ Group. Check out our upcoming events, we would love to see you at our next event!
We are currently accepting new members! For more information, please contact Elyse Salisz at esalisz@balletaz.org.