The School of Ballet Arizona announced its expansion with the addition of a new satellite campus following the acquisition of Ballet Theatre of Phoenix, located near 7th Street and Bethany Home Road. This milestone acquisition continues The School of Ballet Arizona’s mission-driven growth in the Valley and will be the school’s second satellite campus, following its first satellite in 2025 at Child Crisis Arizona’s Child & Family Wellness Center in Mesa.
For the past ten years, Ballet Theatre of Phoenix, founded by Artistic Director Jennifer Cafarella Betts, has become an important part of the arts community in North Central Phoenix, offering programs for students of all ages, a strong adult open class community, and a home for multiple forms of dance instruction. The acquisition will continue upon the legacy of instruction established by Cafarella Betts, while also offering additional instruction and performance opportunities for students ages 3-20 in Phoenix.
“When you’ve devoted so many years to building a school and watching generations of students grow, you want to ensure its future is in the very best hands,” said Cafarella Betts. “Joining The School of Ballet Arizona allows the studio to evolve while preserving the welcoming community we’ve created. I couldn’t imagine a better opportunity for our students, who will now have access to The School of Ballet Arizona’s outstanding faculty and training while continuing to dance in the place they’ve always called home.”
“We are grateful to Jennifer for the trust she has placed in The School of Ballet Arizona and for the opportunity to honor the legacy she has built within Ballet Theatre of Phoenix community,” said James Payne, school director. “This expansion is a meaningful step in the continued growth of our School. By welcoming the students, families, and faculty of Ballet Theatre of Phoenix, we can build upon a strong foundation while extending The School of Ballet Arizona’s established curriculum, faculty expertise, and pathways for student development to a broader and more connected community.”
The new satellite campus will be integrated thoughtfully and gradually. Since the campus already has its own students, families, teachers, and traditions, The School of Ballet Arizona will honor the community that exists there while carefully introducing its standards, curriculum structure, and educational philosophy. The goal is to preserve what is meaningful to those families while creating a new path forward for their students.
“This is an exciting step in the continued development of The School of Ballet Arizona,” said Jami Kozemczak, executive director of Ballet Arizona. “We are incredibly thankful to Jennifer and the entire community of Ballet Theatre of Phoenix for welcoming Ballet Arizona. We look forward to getting to know the community members and student families while expanding our ability to offer pre-professional ballet training and education to young dancers in central Phoenix and the adjacent cities.”
The experience at The School of Ballet Arizona’s Washington campus will remain an equal focus. Classes, schedules, and the student pathway at the campus will continue as planned. However, over time, there will be thoughtful moments of connection across campuses through shared communication, faculty collaboration, events, and a unified school identity. There is already a buzz of excitement.
“As the official training school of Ballet Arizona, The School of Ballet Arizona is dedicated to nurturing the next generation of dancers,” said Artistic Director of Ballet Arizona, Daniela Cardim. “This is an incredible opportunity to further expand the school’s reach in the state of Arizona. We look forward to working with even more young dancers and helping them foster a love for dance, while preparing them for a future in the arts or beyond.”
Enrollment is now open for students at the Washington, Mesa, and North Central campuses. Adult open classes are available at each location for ages 14+. Auditions for new students ages 8-20 will be held on August 8 at The School of Ballet Arizona’s Washington Campus.
