Ballet Yuma

Representing Yuma and Arizona with Excellence!   

Now entering its 20th year under the direction of Jon Cristofori and Kathleen Sinclair, Ballet Yuma is recognized nationally as one of the best pre-professional ballet companies in the country. It is Arizona’s sole representative in Regional Dance America (RDA) as an Honor Company.  Graduates have gone on to dance professionally with highly regarded companies including San Francisco Ballet, Sacramento Ballet, Houston Ballet, American Ballet Theatre’s Studio Company, Boston Ballet, Ballet Memphis, Miami City Ballet, Trey McIntyre Project, Ballet San Jose, Texas Ballet Theater, Les Ballet Trockadero de Monte Carlo, Louisville Ballet, Atlanta Ballet, Missouri Contemporary Ballet, Ballet Idaho, Ballet Nouveau Colorado, City Ballet of San Diego and Utah Regional Ballet.

Providing Education, Development, Experience

Ballet Yuma, through performance experience, Company training, and development from the earliest stages at its official school, Yuma Ballet Academy, provides a learning experience which extends a positive influence far beyond the studio. From Early Childhood Development classes to upper level training, from ballet to contemporary, students build personal discipline leading to a practiced professionalism in both preparation and performance. As evidenced by the numerous Ballet Yuma dancers who have been accepted to train with or have become members of professional companies, students are availed the opportunity to grow to the point that they are prepared to step into the professional world.  Ballet Yuma has been awarded Honor Company status with RDA as much for the education its students receive as for their acknowledged excellence in performance.

Reaching Out to an Expanding Community

The positive influence of the arts increases proportionally with the number of lives it touches.  To this end, Ballet Yuma presented special performances for thousands of local students during its 2013-2014 season.  When possible, guest performers are presented, broadening the experience of local audiences and dancers alike.