PHOENIX – Ballet Arizona is honored to announce a $15,000 grant from Thunderbirds Charities, a nonprofit dedicated to strengthening Arizona communities by supporting organizations that serve children, families, and individuals in need throughout the Greater Phoenix area. This grant will enhance three of Ballet Arizona’s community engagement programs offered at its East Valley campus in Mesa, located within Child Crisis Arizona’s Center for Child & Family Wellness.
These programs, including Native American Hoop Dance, Creative Aging Through Dance, and Dance for Parkinson’s Disease, reflect Ballet Arizona’s commitment to expanding access to the arts and enriching quality of life for diverse communities across Arizona. This fund will provide financial support for all essential expenses associated with these free programs for Mesa residents.
“We are deeply grateful to Thunderbirds Charities for their generosity and steadfast support of Ballet Arizona’s community engagement programs,” said Jami Kozemczak, Ballet Arizona’s executive director. “At Ballet Arizona, we believe dance is for everyone, and these programs make that belief a reality. Dance offers far more than joy, it nurtures emotional well-being, supports physical health, and enriches quality of life.”
Ballet Arizona offers Native American Hoop Dance classes for Native American youth of various ages and levels, providing an opportunity for students to learn from their instructors Eva Bighorse and Sky Duncan. The program is part of an initiative by Ballet Arizona’s Tribal Nations Advisory Council, in partnership with the local Native American community. Classes are held Wednesday evenings for ages 6 – 12 years and offered in two levels (beginner and intermediate).
Creative Aging Through Dance brings free and low-cost dance classes to communities across the Valley and helps Arizona’s seniors build strength, flexibility, and resilience. Taught by Ballet Arizona teaching artists, Creative Aging Through Dance includes movement classes and choreography basics. Classes are held on Wednesday from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m.
Ballet Arizona offers classes that help individuals and their caregivers manage the physical and emotional symptoms associated with Parkinson’s disease. Dance has the power to connect the mind and body. In this class, people with Parkinson’s disease can find renewed strength, confidence, and hope in a community that supports individuality and promotes resilience. Classes are held in-person on Tuesdays from 11:30 a.m. to 12:45 p.m.
As the Valley’s professional ballet company, Ballet Arizona strives to ignite the human spirit through the magic of dance. The company is dedicated to preserving and celebrating classical dance while creating and commissioning new innovative works. For more information about Ballet Arizona, visit balletaz.org.
This grant is part of the Fall 2025 cycle. View a list of all Recent Grantees.