Ballet Yuma gets high marks in national assessment

  An assessment from a nationally known dance authority has yielded rave applause for a local dance company.

  Ballet Yuma was recently visited by Deborah Hadley, an adjudicator with Regional Dance America. The organization is a prestigious association of ballet companies around the country. The adjudication process, much like accreditation, is required for all RDA members.

  Seattle-based Hadley said this was her third visit to Ballet Yuma and she's never been more impressed.

  "Ballet Yuma is always in the top echelon of companies - always," Hadley told The Sun. "What I'm seeing now is maturity in their artistry on top of fantastic technique, and they have some of the best choreography to work with. Bundle that together and you have a really great product."

  Ballet Yuma is the only Arizona dance company belonging to RDA. Being part of RDA's Pacific Division puts Yuma's dancers in the same bracket as places like San Francisco, Sacramento and Santa Barbara, Calif.

  Hadley explained that adjudication helps ballet companies learn more about their strengths and weaknesses. The time is also used to plan the ballet company's performance at RDA's annual dance festival, this year in Provo, Utah.

  "Adjudicators help companies see how they are progressing artistically and technically. We are there to offer resources and advice."

  Her three hours with Ballet Yuma included observing a class and viewing several performances. Hadley stressed how that's more than enough time to accurately assess a dance company's overall picture.

  "You can actually pretty much tell by the time they're done with class. Ballet Yuma has such excellent teachers that even dancers who may not be naturally gifted, when they receive such good training, can become very good dancers. That's where the real treasure lies and that's what is so valuable about Ballet Yuma."

  Hadley speaks from experience. She performed as a principal dancer for for many years and has founded several dance organizations. Upon retiring, she created the Washington Academy of Performing Arts, which served more than 700 students. She now works throughout the country as an adjudicator and consultant for dance schools, festivals and arts commissions.

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Darin Fenger can be reached at
dfenger@yumasun.com or 539-6860.