The Steele Foundation Awards Grant to Ballet Arizona for Community Programs

Ballet Arizona has received a grant from The Steele Foundation that will support the ballet company’s community engagement programs throughout its 2026–2027 season. The Steele Foundation is dedicated to improving the lives of Arizona’s children through investments in education. Its grant will help Ballet Arizona provide a range of education initiatives, community performances and learning opportunities, with a focus on making programs accessible to families from low-income households and underserved communities.

The funding will support programs including “Ballet Under the Stars,” Angel Nights, Student Matinees, Performance Hour and a Sensory Adapted Performance of “The Nutcracker.” Together, these programs bring Ballet Arizona’s mission of igniting the human spirit through dance to audiences throughout the Valley.

For families seeking an accessible introduction to professional ballet, “Ballet Under the Stars” offers free, fully staged performances in parks throughout the Valley. The program brings professional dance into community spaces, allowing audiences to experience ballet without the cost of a traditional theater performance.

Ballet Arizona’s Angel Nights program provides another avenue for community access. Through partnerships with social service and veteran organizations, the program offers complimentary tickets to children and families for the company’s productions.

The grant will also support efforts to make ballet more inclusive for individuals with sensory sensitivities. A Sensory Adapted Performance of “The Nutcracker” creates a welcoming and supportive environment for individuals and their families, allowing them to experience the play in a setting designed with sensory needs in mind.

Education is another important part of Ballet Arizona’s community engagement efforts. Student Matinees give school groups the opportunity to attend a theater performance featuring one act of a mainstage production, providing students with an opportunity to experience professional ballet in person.

Through Performance Hour, students and community groups can also explore what happens behind the curtain. The program offers an immersive look at the inner workings of a professional ballet company, highlighting the many people and elements involved in bringing a production to the stage.

“The arts have the power to change lives, and every child deserves that chance,” said Marianne Cracchiolo Mago, President and CEO of The Steele Foundation. “This grant helps ensure that Ballet Arizona’s programs are within reach, opening the door for families and students across the Valley to experience something truly special.”

Ballet Arizona Executive Director Jami Kozemczak expressed her gratitude to The Steele Foundation for its continued support of the company’s community engagement efforts.

“We firmly believe that dance is a universal language that should be accessible to all,” Kozemczak said. “Our programs turn this belief into action by fostering emotional well-being, promoting physical health, and enhancing overall quality of life through the power of dance. To have the support of The Steele Foundation gives us the ability to strengthen and expand these programs.”

As Arizona’s professional ballet company, Ballet Arizona works to ignite the human spirit through dance while preserving and celebrating classical ballet and creating and commissioning new works. The Steele Foundation’s grant will help the organization continue bringing those experiences to students, families and communities throughout the Valley during the coming season. For more behind this Frontdoor, visit Ballet Arizona.