Ballet Tucson

For 40 years, Ballet Tucson has been rooted in tradition while continuing to find new ways to bring dance to the community.

In our 2026 Art Guide, we meet the women helping shape the company’s next chapter, including Artistic Director Margaret Mullin, Resident Choreographer Chieko Imada, and vice principals Danielle Corte and Sarah Maxwell. Their paths with Ballet Tucson are different, but they share a belief in the power of dance to create connection, confidence, creativity, and curiosity.

As Ballet Tucson celebrates its 40th anniversary, the company is looking ahead with expanded training opportunities, new choreography, world premieres and programs designed to introduce more people to ballet.

From the studio to the stage, the goal remains the same: keeping the art form alive while making room for what comes next.

Read the full article by Daniela Siqueiros - link in bio.

Photo by Carlos Chávez Photography.

Back by popular demand, GRAMMY®-nominated guitarist Diego Figueiredo returns to
La Rosa with Bossa and Samba Duets. Joined by Ballet Tucson, Brice Winston, Arthur
Vint, and more, this collaborative evening blends Brazilian rhythm, jazz improvisation,
dance, and joyful virtuosity.
Diego Figueiredo La Rosa Brice Winston Arthur Vint & Associates Ballet Tucson

Meet our Spirit Garden and Other Works choreographers! ⁣
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Kiyon Ross - [NO HOLDS] barre’d⁣
Chieko Imada - Spirit Garden and Ovation (world premiere)⁣
Margaret Mullin - Ovation (world premiere)⁣
Brik Middlekauff - Ovation (world premiere)⁣
Maya Hughes - The Storm Before the Calm (2026 Steps Forward audience choice winner⁣
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Don't miss this exciting performance featuring four dynamic works by five unique creators!⁣
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𝗦𝗣𝗜𝗥𝗜𝗧 𝗚𝗔𝗥𝗗𝗘𝗡 𝗔𝗡𝗗 𝗢𝗧𝗛𝗘𝗥 𝗪𝗢𝗥𝗞𝗦 ⁣
October 23-25, 2026⁣
Temple of Music and Art⁣
https://ballettucson.org/performances/spirit-garden/
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Photo 1 by Lindsay Thomas⁣
Other photos by Carlos Chavez⁣

Get to know our newly promoted Corps de Ballet dancers! First up, Olivia Bellone. 💙⁣
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Olivia Bellone is from New Jersey, and trained at the American Ballet Theater National Training Curriculum under Pamela Levy and Maeve Dougal, and with the Academy of Dance Arts under Nicholas and Shayne Mishoe. From 2022-2024 Olivia completed her time as a student in Ballet West Academy's Professional Training Division, and as a Trainee. With Ballet West, Olivia performed in Swan Lake, The Sleeping Beauty, Willam Christensen’s The Nutcracker, George Balanchine’s Who Cares?, Allegro Brillante, and August Bournonville’s Napoli. She also supplemented her training at Jacob’s Pillow, American Ballet Theatre, Ballet West, the HARID Conservatory, and with Elena Kunikova. ⁣
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Olivia joined Ballet Tucson in 2024 as an Apprentice and was promoted to the Corps de Ballet in 2026. Here Olivia has performed in many works including George Balanchine’s Rubies, Andrea Shermoly's Swivet, Chieko Imada's The Phantom of the Opera, Margaret Mullin's Desert Dweller, and Kiyon Ross's 10: Un –A’ frayed Edges. She shares that she excited to see what the future at Ballet Tucson will bring!⁣
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𝘖𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘢 𝘉𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘨𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘴𝘭𝘺 𝘴𝘱𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘰𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘺 𝘔𝘪𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘦𝘭 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘕𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘺 𝘍𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘳.⁣
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Photos by Carlos Chavez⁣

Happy Hispanic Heritage Month! ❤️ Tucson is a vibrant and diverse community that we are proud to be a part of. Latinx culture is an essential part of who we are as a city and has inspired some of our most beloved creations. We couldn't celebrate 40 years as Tucson's professional ballet company without bringing back one of our audience favorite works Spirit Garden, a ballet celebration of Dia de los Mu***os. See it on stage next month!⁣
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𝗦𝗣𝗜𝗥𝗜𝗧 𝗚𝗔𝗥𝗗𝗘𝗡 𝗔𝗡𝗗 𝗢𝗧𝗛𝗘𝗥 𝗪𝗢𝗥𝗞𝗦 ⁣
October 23-25, 2026⁣
Temple of Music and Art⁣
https://ballettucson.org/performances/spirit-garden/
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Photos by Carlos Chavez⁣

In addition to celebrating five years with Ballet Tucson, dancer Sky Byrd has been promoted to Demi Soloist! 💖⁣
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Artistic Director Margaret Mullin shares, “Every day I feel tremendous gratitude to have an artist like Sky at Ballet Tucson. She is a dancer that has helped define who are as a company through her talent, incredible work ethic, and her deep kindness and compassion. She brings all of herself to her work every single day. Not a moment of class or rehearsal goes by that Sky does not pour her whole heart into. From the moment she arrived at Ballet Tucson, her command of the stage was obvious. Choreographers and patrons alike have gravitated toward her vibrant spark and generous spirit. She has that something special that you just know to be profound in an artist when you see it. She is captivating. We are so proud of her and to offer her this very well deserved promotion.”⁣
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Please join us in congratulating Ballet Tucson's newest Demi Soloist dancer!⁣ 💐⁣
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𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘰 𝘑𝘰𝘦 𝘕𝘰𝘳𝘮𝘢𝘯 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘨𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘴 𝘴𝘱𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘰𝘳𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘱 𝘰𝘧 𝘚𝘬𝘺 𝘉𝘺𝘳𝘥⁣
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Photos by Carlos Chavez⁣