Ballet Yuma returns from national competition with awards, accolades

Ballet Yuma recently danced its way into the national spotlight during a national competition and leaped off the stage with a handful of top honors.

The local ballet company attended a major dance festival in Richland, Wash., where the Yuma dancers were the only company to have been invited from Arizona.

Ballet Yuma itself received an honor, along with individuals receiving awards, scholarships and a dance contract.

"This definitely was a very good year for Ballet Yuma. I was really impressed with our dancers," said Kathleen Sinclair, who co-owns Ballet Yuma with husband, Jon Cristofori. "We heard 'Ballet Yuma' a lot during the award banquet, which is always nice. We always say that we're known better around the U.S. as a dance organization than we are in our own community."

Hosting the dance festival was Regional Dance America (RDA), which Sinclair describe as one of the top-notch dance organizations in the nation. Regional Dance America offers members a chance to perform on the national scene and earn scholarships. The organization also adjudicates or evaluates member companies annually for its coveted nod of accreditation. RDA representatives visit member companies each year.

Ballet Yuma holds the honor of being the only company in Arizona to belong to RDA. It's an honor that Sinclair says speaks volumes about her company, its dancers and the young people of Yuma.

"The adjudication really keeps us own our toes. It challenge us to make sure we are working our dancers at a high standard. It helps us know we are doing the very best for our students," Sinclair said, explaining why more Arizona companies don't belong to RDA: "Being evaluated like this means you really have to expose yourself and not everyone wants to go through that. It's a challenging process."

During the recent festival, Ballet Yuma was designated as an honor company for 2010.

Ballet Yuma performed "Don't Be Late" by David Arce and "The Orchid" by Daniel Marshall.

Arce, a former Ballet Yuma dancer, won the Emerging Choreography Award for "Don't Be Late." Arce recently retired from dancing with San Francisco Ballet.

Another highlight was Yuma dancer Brooke Frandsen, 18, being offered a professional contract with Ballet Idaho. Sinclair raved that she's never seen a contact offered during the dance festival in all the years she's attended.

"I was thrilled. She's very special," Sinclair said. "This honor says a lot."

Andrea Hennig was awarded a full dancer scholarship - including tuition, room and board - to RDA Choreography Intensive.

Arce was award a full choreographer scholarship - including tuition, room and board - to RDA Choreography Intensive.

Frandsen was awarded a full scholarship to International Dance School at the International Ballet Competition in Jackson, Miss.

Full-tuition scholarships for summer dance intensive programs were also awarded to the following:

 • Brooke Frandsen – North Carolina Dance Theatre and Ballet Idaho
 • Taylor Owens - Ballet Austin
 • Kacey Turner - Ballet Magnificat
 • Alexandria Urias -  The Joffrey Jazz and Contemporary Workshop
 • University dance department early acceptances:
 • Taylor Owens: University of Arizona and Wright State University

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