At the School of Ballet Arizona (SBAZ), growth is not a single moment, but a progression. It unfolds over time through opportunity, access, and a consistent investment in each student’s potential. From a first introduction to dance to advanced study and pre-professional development, SBAZ provides a pathway where students can continue to build, refine, and expand what is possible for themselves.
That pathway has become increasingly intentional. With the launch of the Studio Company in 2014, Ballet Arizona created a critical bridge between student and professional life—one that allows dancers to deepen their skills while gaining performance experience. This season, the introduction of the Professional Day Program has further strengthened that continuum, offering dedicated students the opportunity to work at a higher level within a structure designed to support serious pre-professional growth. Together, these programs reflect a commitment not only to developing dancers, but to supporting their progress at every stage.
The impact of that investment is visible across the company today. Fourteen current Ballet Arizona dancers were once members of the Studio Company, and for four of them, that journey began at SBAZ at an early age. These are not isolated stories, but the result of a sustained focus on cultivating talent from within and creating pathways for students to continue advancing.
Company Dancer, Jordan Islas, is one example of that path. His introduction to dance came through Ballet Arizona’s DanceAZ school residency program, where he first encountered ballet in a classroom setting. What began as a moment of curiosity grew into a lasting interest, leading him to continue his studies at SBAZ, progress into the Studio Company, and ultimately join Ballet Arizona as a company dancer.
Jordan is not alone. Since the development of the DanceAZ program, seven students have gone on to continue at the School of Ballet Arizona—an outcome made possible through scholarship support that allows students to remain engaged and committed to their development.
For families, that access is essential, ensuring that high-quality arts education is not limited by financial circumstance. For donors, investing in the School is not only about access—it is about honoring a lifelong connection to the art form and supporting its future.
“Richard Stahl enjoyed performances at Ballet Arizona for many years. After his passing, the Richard P. Stahl Charitable Fund wished to celebrate his love of ballet, and we were delighted to do so by supporting the David Hallberg Scholarship Fund at SBAZ. These scholarships will help ensure the excellence of the School and Ballet Arizona for many years to come.”
—Mel Reese, Trustee of the Richard P. Stahl Charitable Fund
Support like this does more than sustain programs—it shapes lives. It allows students to imagine a future they may not have seen for themselves and gives them the tools to pursue it with confidence and purpose.
Not every student will go on to dance professionally, and that is not the measure of success. What remains, for all of them, is something deeper: discipline, resilience, creativity, and a connection to the arts that stays with them long after they leave the studio.
At the School of Ballet Arizona, dreams are not defined by a single outcome. They are discovered, challenged, and carried forward—taking flight in ways that are as individual as the students themselves.
