Ballet Arizona’s 2023-2024 Season

Faculty and Staff

Get to Know...

Ib Andersen

Artistic Director

From: Copenhagen, Denmark

Get to Know...

Ib Andersen

Artistic Director

From: Copenhagen, Denmark

Get to Know...

Ib Andersen

Artistic Director

From: Copenhagen, Denmark

Get to Know...
maria-simonetti headshot

Maria Simonetti

School Director

From: Buenos Aires, Argentina

Joined Ballet Arizona: 1997
Get to Know...
maria-simonetti headshot

Maria Simonetti

School Director

From: Buenos Aires, Argentina

Joined Ballet Arizona: 1997
Get to Know...
maria-simonetti headshot

Maria Simonetti

School Director

From: Buenos Aires, Argentina

Joined Ballet Arizona: 1997
Get to Know...
Alecia-Good-Boresow headshot

Alecia Good-Boresow

Upper Division Coordinator and Studio Company Manager

Joined Ballet Arizona: 2022
Get to Know...
Alecia-Good-Boresow headshot

Alecia Good-Boresow

Upper Division Coordinator and Studio Company Manager

Joined Ballet Arizona: 2022
Get to Know...
Alecia-Good-Boresow headshot

Alecia Good-Boresow

Upper Division Coordinator and Studio Company Manager

Joined Ballet Arizona: 2022
Get to Know...
Gillmer duran headshot.

Gillmer Duran

Upper Division Student Liaison

From: Barquisimeto, Venezuela

Joined Ballet Arizona: 2019

Originally from Barquisimeto, Venezuela, Gillmer Duran began dancing Venezuelan folk dances and continued his formal ballet training at age 21 at the Fundación Arte Nuevo. He danced professionally with Ballet Metropolitano, Ballet Nuevo Mundo, National Ballet of Caracas, Tulsa Ballet Theatre, and eight consecutive seasons with Eugene Ballet Company. He worked with choreographers such as Vicente Nebrada, Nicolo Fonte, Robert Battle, Mauricio Wainrott, Edwaard Liang, Jessica Lang and Toni Pimble, among others.

His versatility and intuition allowed him to perform a variety of classical, neoclassical and contemporary roles. In June of 2010, he began teaching ballet as a way to inspire the new generations of dancers and to share his passion for dance. In October of 2010, he was appointed as Alaska Dance Theatre’s Artistic Director and Resident Choreographer. In 2011, Duran received the Fermin Toro University Award for his career and continued to teach ballet in the east coast. He has taught master classes for several schools and has created choreography for Eugene Ballet, Alaska Dance Theatre, Ballet Des Moines, and Northwest Arkansas Ballet Theatre.

In July of 2023 he obtained his Bachelor in Fine Arts from Saint Mary’s College of California. He is currently a full-time faculty at the School of Ballet Arizona and this is his fifth-year teaching at the Arizona School for the Arts.

Get to Know...
Gillmer duran headshot.

Gillmer Duran

Upper Division Student Liaison

From: Barquisimeto, Venezuela

Joined Ballet Arizona: 2019

Originally from Barquisimeto, Venezuela, Gillmer Duran began dancing Venezuelan folk dances and continued his formal ballet training at age 21 at the Fundación Arte Nuevo. He danced professionally with Ballet Metropolitano, Ballet Nuevo Mundo, National Ballet of Caracas, Tulsa Ballet Theatre, and eight consecutive seasons with Eugene Ballet Company. He worked with choreographers such as Vicente Nebrada, Nicolo Fonte, Robert Battle, Mauricio Wainrott, Edwaard Liang, Jessica Lang and Toni Pimble, among others.

His versatility and intuition allowed him to perform a variety of classical, neoclassical and contemporary roles. In June of 2010, he began teaching ballet as a way to inspire the new generations of dancers and to share his passion for dance. In October of 2010, he was appointed as Alaska Dance Theatre’s Artistic Director and Resident Choreographer. In 2011, Duran received the Fermin Toro University Award for his career and continued to teach ballet in the east coast. He has taught master classes for several schools and has created choreography for Eugene Ballet, Alaska Dance Theatre, Ballet Des Moines, and Northwest Arkansas Ballet Theatre.

In July of 2023 he obtained his Bachelor in Fine Arts from Saint Mary’s College of California. He is currently a full-time faculty at the School of Ballet Arizona and this is his fifth-year teaching at the Arizona School for the Arts.

Get to Know...
Gillmer duran headshot.

Gillmer Duran

Upper Division Student Liaison

From: Barquisimeto, Venezuela

Joined Ballet Arizona: 2019

Originally from Barquisimeto, Venezuela, Gillmer Duran began dancing Venezuelan folk dances and continued his formal ballet training at age 21 at the Fundación Arte Nuevo. He danced professionally with Ballet Metropolitano, Ballet Nuevo Mundo, National Ballet of Caracas, Tulsa Ballet Theatre, and eight consecutive seasons with Eugene Ballet Company. He worked with choreographers such as Vicente Nebrada, Nicolo Fonte, Robert Battle, Mauricio Wainrott, Edwaard Liang, Jessica Lang and Toni Pimble, among others.

His versatility and intuition allowed him to perform a variety of classical, neoclassical and contemporary roles. In June of 2010, he began teaching ballet as a way to inspire the new generations of dancers and to share his passion for dance. In October of 2010, he was appointed as Alaska Dance Theatre’s Artistic Director and Resident Choreographer. In 2011, Duran received the Fermin Toro University Award for his career and continued to teach ballet in the east coast. He has taught master classes for several schools and has created choreography for Eugene Ballet, Alaska Dance Theatre, Ballet Des Moines, and Northwest Arkansas Ballet Theatre.

In July of 2023 he obtained his Bachelor in Fine Arts from Saint Mary’s College of California. He is currently a full-time faculty at the School of Ballet Arizona and this is his fifth-year teaching at the Arizona School for the Arts.

Get to Know...

Fabiana Poulis

Children’s and Lower Division Coordinator

From: Phoenix, Arizona

Joined Ballet Arizona: 2016
Get to Know...

Fabiana Poulis

Children’s and Lower Division Coordinator

From: Phoenix, Arizona

Joined Ballet Arizona: 2016
Get to Know...

Fabiana Poulis

Children’s and Lower Division Coordinator

From: Phoenix, Arizona

Joined Ballet Arizona: 2016
Get to Know...
David Kremsing headshot

David Krensing

Ballet Master, Summer Intensive Coordinator

Joined Ballet Arizona: 2012
Get to Know...
David Kremsing headshot

David Krensing

Ballet Master, Summer Intensive Coordinator

Joined Ballet Arizona: 2012
Get to Know...
David Kremsing headshot

David Krensing

Ballet Master, Summer Intensive Coordinator

Joined Ballet Arizona: 2012
Get to Know...
Talia-boresow headshot

Talia Boresow

Joined Ballet Arizona: 2022
Get to Know...
Talia-boresow headshot

Talia Boresow

Joined Ballet Arizona: 2022
Get to Know...
Talia-boresow headshot

Talia Boresow

Joined Ballet Arizona: 2022
Get to Know...
lisbet-companioni

Lisbet Companioni

Ballet Mistress

From: Camagüey, Cuba

Joined Ballet Arizona: 2008
Get to Know...
lisbet-companioni

Lisbet Companioni

Ballet Mistress

From: Camagüey, Cuba

Joined Ballet Arizona: 2008
Get to Know...
lisbet-companioni

Lisbet Companioni

Ballet Mistress

From: Camagüey, Cuba

Joined Ballet Arizona: 2008
Get to Know...
sybelle dadey headshot

Sibylle Dadey

Get to Know...
sybelle dadey headshot

Sibylle Dadey

Get to Know...
sybelle dadey headshot

Sibylle Dadey

Get to Know...
Daniel Baudendistel headshot

Daniel Baudendistel

Joined Ballet Arizona: 2007
Get to Know...
Daniel Baudendistel headshot

Daniel Baudendistel

Joined Ballet Arizona: 2007
Get to Know...
Daniel Baudendistel headshot

Daniel Baudendistel

Joined Ballet Arizona: 2007
Get to Know...
Sarah-Diniz

Sarah Diniz

From: Maracay, Venezuela

Joined Ballet Arizona: 2020
Training: The School of Ballet Arizona, Orlando Ballet School, Ballet Etudes, The Joffrey Ballet Academy, Pacific Northwest Ballet School, The Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School
Get to Know...
Sarah-Diniz

Sarah Diniz

From: Maracay, Venezuela

Joined Ballet Arizona: 2020
Training: The School of Ballet Arizona, Orlando Ballet School, Ballet Etudes, The Joffrey Ballet Academy, Pacific Northwest Ballet School, The Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School
Get to Know...
Sarah-Diniz

Sarah Diniz

From: Maracay, Venezuela

Joined Ballet Arizona: 2020
Training: The School of Ballet Arizona, Orlando Ballet School, Ballet Etudes, The Joffrey Ballet Academy, Pacific Northwest Ballet School, The Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School
Get to Know...
Gia_Firicano headshot

Gia Firicano

Joined Ballet Arizona: 2003
Get to Know...
Gia_Firicano headshot

Gia Firicano

Joined Ballet Arizona: 2003
Get to Know...
Gia_Firicano headshot

Gia Firicano

Joined Ballet Arizona: 2003
Get to Know...
Rachel-Gehr

Rachel Gehr

From: Westfield, Indiana

Joined Ballet Arizona: 2020
Training: Indiana University Jacobs School of Music, Central Indiana Academy of Dance
Get to Know...
Rachel-Gehr

Rachel Gehr

From: Westfield, Indiana

Joined Ballet Arizona: 2020
Training: Indiana University Jacobs School of Music, Central Indiana Academy of Dance
Get to Know...
Rachel-Gehr

Rachel Gehr

From: Westfield, Indiana

Joined Ballet Arizona: 2020
Training: Indiana University Jacobs School of Music, Central Indiana Academy of Dance
Get to Know...
Lisa Hammond Faculty Headshot

Lisa Hammond

From: Phoenix, Arizona

Joined Ballet Arizona: 2020
Get to Know...
Lisa Hammond Faculty Headshot

Lisa Hammond

From: Phoenix, Arizona

Joined Ballet Arizona: 2020
Get to Know...
Lisa Hammond Faculty Headshot

Lisa Hammond

From: Phoenix, Arizona

Joined Ballet Arizona: 2020
Get to Know...
Nayon-Iovino

Nayon Iovino

From: Goiania, Brazil

Joined Ballet Arizona: 2012
Training: Houston Ballet, The Washington School of Ballet, Studio Dancarte Brazil
Other Companies: The Washington Ballet, Houston Ballet
Get to Know...
Nayon-Iovino

Nayon Iovino

From: Goiania, Brazil

Joined Ballet Arizona: 2012
Training: Houston Ballet, The Washington School of Ballet, Studio Dancarte Brazil
Other Companies: The Washington Ballet, Houston Ballet
Get to Know...
Nayon-Iovino

Nayon Iovino

From: Goiania, Brazil

Joined Ballet Arizona: 2012
Training: Houston Ballet, The Washington School of Ballet, Studio Dancarte Brazil
Other Companies: The Washington Ballet, Houston Ballet
Get to Know...
Eastlyn-Jensen headshot

Eastlyn Jensen

From: Ridgefield, Connecticut

Joined Ballet Arizona: 2019
Training: The Studio at Ballet Etudes, American Ballet Theatre School, The School of American Ballet, Chautauqua Institution, Houston Ballet, Ballet West, The School of Ballet Arizona
Get to Know...
Eastlyn-Jensen headshot

Eastlyn Jensen

From: Ridgefield, Connecticut

Joined Ballet Arizona: 2019
Training: The Studio at Ballet Etudes, American Ballet Theatre School, The School of American Ballet, Chautauqua Institution, Houston Ballet, Ballet West, The School of Ballet Arizona
Get to Know...
Eastlyn-Jensen headshot

Eastlyn Jensen

From: Ridgefield, Connecticut

Joined Ballet Arizona: 2019
Training: The Studio at Ballet Etudes, American Ballet Theatre School, The School of American Ballet, Chautauqua Institution, Houston Ballet, Ballet West, The School of Ballet Arizona
Get to Know...
yumi_la_rosa

Yumi La Rosa

Joined Ballet Arizona: 2014
Get to Know...
yumi_la_rosa

Yumi La Rosa

Joined Ballet Arizona: 2014
Get to Know...
yumi_la_rosa

Yumi La Rosa

Joined Ballet Arizona: 2014
Get to Know...
Luis-Martinez

Luis Martinez

Joined Ballet Arizona: 2022
Get to Know...
Luis-Martinez

Luis Martinez

Joined Ballet Arizona: 2022
Get to Know...
Luis-Martinez

Luis Martinez

Joined Ballet Arizona: 2022
Get to Know...
roberto-m

Roberto Muñoz

From: Phoenix, Arizona

Joined Ballet Arizona: 2019
Get to Know...
roberto-m

Roberto Muñoz

From: Phoenix, Arizona

Joined Ballet Arizona: 2019
Get to Know...
roberto-m

Roberto Muñoz

From: Phoenix, Arizona

Joined Ballet Arizona: 2019
Get to Know...
Gail_Passey-Reed headshot

Gail Passey-Reed

Joined Ballet Arizona: 1998
Get to Know...
Gail_Passey-Reed headshot

Gail Passey-Reed

Joined Ballet Arizona: 1998
Get to Know...
Gail_Passey-Reed headshot

Gail Passey-Reed

Joined Ballet Arizona: 1998
Get to Know...
Michelle-Reissig

Michelle Reissig

From: Phoenix, Arizona

Get to Know...
Michelle-Reissig

Michelle Reissig

From: Phoenix, Arizona

Get to Know...
Michelle-Reissig

Michelle Reissig

From: Phoenix, Arizona

Get to Know...
kleiton_sisteos

Kleiton Sistélos

Joined Ballet Arizona: 2015
Get to Know...
kleiton_sisteos

Kleiton Sistélos

Joined Ballet Arizona: 2015
Get to Know...
kleiton_sisteos

Kleiton Sistélos

Joined Ballet Arizona: 2015
Get to Know...
Brad headshot

Bradley Tedder

Conditioning

Bio coming soon!

Get to Know...
Brad headshot

Bradley Tedder

Conditioning

Bio coming soon!

Get to Know...
Brad headshot

Bradley Tedder

Conditioning

Bio coming soon!

Get to Know...

Robyn Tennyson

From: Phoenix, Arizona

Joined Ballet Arizona: 2017
Get to Know...

Robyn Tennyson

From: Phoenix, Arizona

Joined Ballet Arizona: 2017
Get to Know...

Robyn Tennyson

From: Phoenix, Arizona

Joined Ballet Arizona: 2017
Get to Know...
Sasha-Vincett

Sasha Vincett

From: Spring Grove, Pennsylvania

Joined Ballet Arizona: 2007
Training: The Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet, Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre School
Get to Know...
Sasha-Vincett

Sasha Vincett

From: Spring Grove, Pennsylvania

Joined Ballet Arizona: 2007
Training: The Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet, Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre School
Get to Know...
Sasha-Vincett

Sasha Vincett

From: Spring Grove, Pennsylvania

Joined Ballet Arizona: 2007
Training: The Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet, Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre School
Get to Know...
Jasmine-Nunn-headshot

Jasmine Nunn

School Manager

Get to Know...
Jasmine-Nunn-headshot

Jasmine Nunn

School Manager

Get to Know...
Jasmine-Nunn-headshot

Jasmine Nunn

School Manager

Welcome to Ballet Arizona's new, official website!
close-image