School Directors & Staff

Chieko Imada is a native of Japan where she danced professionally as a Soloist with Inoue Ballet of Tokyo and served as Ballet Mistress there. She has worked closely with many of the past and current noted figures of classical ballet, having performed in Europe, Korea, the Philippines, Australia and the South Pacific. Since coming to the United States, she has been a member of Arizona Dance Theatre, Ballet Arizona, and a former Principal Dancer for Ballet Tucson. She also appeared regularly with Orts Theatre of Dance and Tenth St. Danceworks modern troupes in Tucson.

Chieko has supported and developed the School of Ballet Tucson and the Ballet Tucson professional company for over 30 years, first with Mary Beth Cabana and now with Margaret Mullin. As Ballet Tucson's Associate Artistic Director, she has created many classical ballets including Swan Lake, The Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, Les Sylphides, Raymond Variations, Giselle Act 2, La Bayadere Kingdom of the Shades and has created numerous original contemporary works. In 2022 she was named Ballet Tucson's Resident Choreographer in appreciation for her incredible contributions as a choreographer over the past three decades, and for her continued work in the development of the company's artistic excellence. Each ear she creates a world premiere ballet in partnership with the Tucson Desert Song Festival, and past highlights include Viva Piazzolla (2013 and 2019) for which she collaborated with Tucson Guitar Society and The Rogue Theater, Dance a la Francaise (2014), A tribute to Leonard Bernstein (2018), Unsquare (2020), and Ballet the Calla-way collaboration with Broadway legend Ann Hampton Callaway (2022). She has also worked with famed musical artists Bandani-Chiacchiaretta Duo, Carlos Zapien, and Don Shepard

Ms. Imada has been nominated for the Buffalo Exchange Arts Award and the Governor's Art Award for her work as a choreographer. She has created several original feature-length works for Ballet Tucson including Phantom of the Opera in 2014. a steampunk version of Jekyll & Hyde in 2015, and Dia de Los Muertos ballet entitled Spirit Garden in collaboration with renowned artist Lawrence Lee and musical group Calexico in 2016. She was the recipient of an Arts Hero Award for the 2019-2022 arts seasons from On Media for her impact on the Tucson arts community.

Chieko has instructed dance for almost forty years, teaching students of all ages, many of whom have gone onto professional careers with some of the world's greatest dance companies including Pacific Northwest Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, New York City Ballet, San Francisco Ballet, Bejart Ballet, Houston Ballet, Dutch National Ballet and more. She has been a guest instructor and a ballet repetiteur for Grand Valley University, Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp, Ballet Pacifica. Ms. Imada is a teacher and consultant for the School of Ballet Tucson and serves as the Director of Educational Outreach for Ballet Tucson implementing "Putting Your Best Foot Forward with Ballet Tucson" in Tucson Title 1 schools. She taught an Arts and Residency program for elementary schools in Southern Arizona and New Mexico from 1990-2000 and taught in public elementary schools in Tucson as part of the "Young Audience" program.