Ballet Arizona’s 2023-2024 Season

Contemporary Council

Contemporary Council Officers

Anya Borshch

Anya Borshch

Chairwoman

Anya Borshch

Anya Borshch

Chairwoman

Chairwoman

Anya Borshch

Chairwoman

Norma Gutierrez
norma-gutierrez

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
norma-gutierrez

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.

Vice Chair
norma-gutierrez

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

Dani McCune

Secretary

Bio coming soon!

Dani McCune

Dani McCune

Secretary

Bio coming soon!

Secretary

Dani McCune

Secretary

Bio coming soon!

Joseph Palomino

Joseph Palomino

Treasurer

Bio coming soon...

Joseph Palomino

Joseph Palomino

Treasurer

Bio coming soon...

Treasurer

Joseph Palomino

Treasurer

Bio coming soon...

Contemporary Council Members

Julie Anderson
Julie-Anderson headshot

Julie Anderson

Julie Anderson
Julie-Anderson headshot

Julie Anderson

Julie-Anderson headshot

Julie Anderson

Rochelle Belsito
Rochelle

Rochelle Belsito

From: Phoenix, Arizona

Rochelle Belsito
Rochelle

Rochelle Belsito

From: Phoenix, Arizona

Rochelle

Rochelle Belsito

From: Phoenix, Arizona

Lindsay Danto

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

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

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

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

Kathryn Preston

Bio coming soon!

Kathryn Preston

Kathryn Preston

Bio coming soon!

Kathryn Preston

Bio coming soon!

Serena Remy
Serena_Remy

Serena Remy

Serena Remy
Serena_Remy

Serena Remy

Serena_Remy

Serena Remy

Jordyn Siegfried
Jordyn siegfried headshot

Jordyn Siegfried

Jordyn Siegfried
Jordyn siegfried headshot

Jordyn Siegfried

Jordyn siegfried headshot

Jordyn Siegfried

Eleanor Umphres

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 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

Back by popular demand! See Ballet Arizona's Swan Lake this October. 
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