Mission & History

Firmly committed to our role as a resource for Tucson and Southern Arizona, Ballet Tucson stands by our mission, vision, and core values.

Ballet Tucson provides local and international artistry of the highest caliber through professional performances, dance training, arts in education opportunities and community outreach.

Ballet Tucson is dedicated to bringing iconic, world-class dance performances and rising star artists to Tucson, to share explorative experiences that inspire hope and excitement in our community.

• Commitment to Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Access in all aspects of administration, volunteerism, performance, training and education.

• Commitment to Excellence in performance, training, education, administration and volunteerism.

• Commitment to Creativity in all aspects of Ballet Tucson’s operations. 

Ballet Tucson was established in 1986 by Mary Beth Cabana with the goal of creating a world-class professional ballet company and school in Southern Arizona. In the spring of 2022 Margaret Mullin, a Tucson native, was named Artistic Director alongside Chieko Imada, Ballet Tucson’s Associate Artistic Director and Resident Choreographer. Ms. Mullin trained at The School of Ballet Tucson on full scholarship before her fourteen-year career as a leading dancer and choreographer with Pacific Northwest Ballet in Seattle. Danielle and Liang Fu, accomplished dancers and teachers with a combined thirty-seven years of experience internationally, were named Directors of The School of Ballet Tucson in the summer of 2022.

The Ballet Tucson company brings five unique concerts to the stage annually that feature beloved classics and innovative new works by acclaimed choreographers, performed by professional dancers from around the world. The School of Ballet Tucson provides the opportunity for students of all ages to receive the highest caliber of dance training from accomplished instructors while developing a deep love for the art form and a means for greater self-expression.

Ballet Tucson is committed to building community around the art of dance through outreach initiatives including free pop-up performances, arts education classes in public schools, the Ballet Banter lecture series and a ticket subsidy program. Ballet Tucson is also proud to collaborate with other treasured local cultural organizations to provide enriching arts experiences. This includes a vibrant partnership with the Tucson Symphony Orchestra for the holiday classic The Nutcracker made possible by the James H. and Frances R. Allen Family Foundation in loving memory of Nancy Causbie.