Ballet Arizona - Our Story
To ignite the human spirit through the magic of dance.
Who We Are:
Founded in 1986 from the merger of three companies, Ballet Arizona has become the Southwest’s premier professional ballet company. In 2000, Ib Andersen joined Ballet Arizona as Artistic Director and under his leadership, Ballet Arizona mounted many seasons of successful ballet performances.
Today, the company consists of about 30 dancers under the new artistic direction of internationally acclaimed dancer, choreographer, and arts leader, Daniela Cardim. Cardim was a soloist at Ballet of Municipal Theatre of Rio de Janeiro and has choreographed works for a myriad of internationally recognized ballet companies. Ballet Arizona is excited to follow her lead for the future of dance in Arizona.
Ballet Arizona is dedicated to preserving and celebrating classical dance while creating and commissioning new, innovative works. We are committed to supporting diversity throughout our organization and in our communities and take pride in sharing the rich tradition of classical ballet and the contemporary evolution of the art form with Arizona audiences.
Ballet Arizona also believes that communities thrive in a healthy balance of interests that includes arts as well as work, family activities, sports, leisure-time pursuits, enjoyment of nature and climate, active lifestyles. To help support this belief, we take a collaborative approach to strengthening community engagement in ballet and the arts. With school-day presentations and behind-the-scenes programs, free community performances and family events, we endeavor to provide Arizonans with many opportunities to learn more about our art form and understand how and why the arts can be so universally impactful. These educational and engagement programs touch the lives of more than 35,000 Valley residents of all ages each year and wouldn’t be possible without your generous support.
The School of Ballet Arizona is also an important part of Ballet Arizona. The School offers pre-K to pre-professional levels as well as programs and classes for the community. With a focus on teaching professionalism, the school provides comprehensive dance training that meets the expectations of professional dance companies and equips students with a broad range of skills that enhance their lifelong success. Students are frequently integrated into professional performances with the main company and are consistently guided to achieve their greatest artistic and creative potential. The school also provides the professional teachers for our many other community engagement programs including Creative Aging Through Dance, Adaptive Dance for Down Syndrome, and Dance for Parkinson’s.
Looking forward:
In April 2024, Ballet Arizona appointed its new artistic director, Daniela Cardim, who began her tenure with the organization on July 1, 2024. Cardim is the first woman to hold the position and the fourth artistic director for the organization, succeeding Ib Andersen’s 24 years of leadership.
“I am delighted and honored to have been chosen to be Ballet Arizona’s next artistic director,” said Cardim. “The company has an incredible pool of talent and I cannot wait to start working with its wonderful artists and staff. I hope to honor Ballet Arizona’s past, the beautiful legacy Ib Andersen has created, and the classical ballet tradition by performing favorite narratives from the classical canon. We will also bring masterpieces of the 20th and 21st centuries to Arizona audiences and become an extraordinary creative hub. We will deliver varied, high-quality programming for audiences to experience, all while making sure the art form is accessible and inclusive.”
“I am very excited to have Daniela Cardim join Ballet Arizona as our artistic director. Daniela brings tremendous skill as both a leader and choreographer, as well as a remarkable knowledge of the artform,” said Jami Kozemczak, Ballet Arizona’s executive director. “She quickly won the support of our dancers and staff through her fresh, open approach that balances both the historical richness of ballet, with the desire to push the envelope with new works. We are also looking forward to seeing how Daniela will uplift The School of Ballet Arizona and our community engagement offerings through her passion for dance education. I think this will mark an incredibly transformative and exhilarating era for the organization.”
