2021 LIST of Women-Owned / Women-Managed Arizona Dance Businesses* Creating this list was inspired by International Women's Day, Wednesday, March 8, 2017. As of March 8, 2021, 266 dance businesses, 48% of all AZ Dance Businesses (555), are owned and managed by women. We have also indicated those which have closed (10) mostly due to the pandemic. *We did not include male/female or spousal partnerships to the best of our knowledge.

A child’s first experience with a female business owner is usually their first dance teacher. That relationship may last forever. As a result, women are more likely to be entrepreneurial and start their own dance business, or another business, because they grew up seeing women in charge of their careers.

Women-Owned/Managed Dance Businesses Pinetop in ARIZONA Ballet of the White Mountains, Linda Bohn Arizona Dance Coalition, All Female Board Prescott Arizona Dance Education Organization, All Female Board Lessons by Lexe: Dance Studio, Lexe Niekamp Mary Heller Dance Arts, Mary Heller NORTHERN & NORTH CENTRAL REGIONS New Moon School of Bellydance Studio, Ustadza Azra Clarkdale Nicole Adette Romine, Director, Choreographer Dana De Luz Dance Studio, Dana De Luz Summer’s Danceworks, Summer Hinton Flagstaff Sedona Ahlers Dance, Cynthia Dewell Ahlers Alive Today Enterprises, Pash Galbavy All About Dance, Kerri Bauer Ecstatic Dance Sedona, Gwen All That Dance, Rhonda Harris Sedona Chamber Ballet, All Female Board Canyon Dance Academy, Gina Darlington Sun Moon Studio, Jessica Philips Canyon Dance Supply, Gina Darlington Snowflake Canyon Movement Company, Gina Darlington Canyon Creek Performing Arts, Sandy Ballard dancEvolution, Jesica Barker Dance Amour, Elizabeth Brinton Grand Canyon Salsa Festival, Kati Pan Winslow Human Nature Dance Theatre, Jayne Lee High Desert Dance Academy, Nicole Guzman Human Nature Dance Studio, Jayne Lee Leslie Baker, Choreographer/Educator Momentum Aerial, Joanie Garcia and Morgan Louvier The Tango Connection, Dr Hanna Ian Fort Mohave Masala Lakeside (Wagon Wheel) Dance Academy of the White Mountains, Rebecca Eagle CENTRAL REGION Gilbert Anthem Arizona Edge Dance, Missy Bordelon Perrien & Jessica Dance with Dee, Deena Roming Rector Dynamic Motion Dance Academy, Tiffany Fox Astarte Belly Dance Troupe, Pam “Gazelle” Robertson Avondale Ballet Etudes, Sharon Seder Meko Ballet Folklorico Esperanza, Kathi Soria BE School of Dance, Sharon Seder Meko Debbie Polisky, Nutrition Tango Cloud Creations/Fly by Night Costume Co, Pam “Gazelle” Revel Dancewear, Toya Bray Robertson Studio 21 Dance, Nicole Lake Creator’s Space Studios, Turiya Chavez & Holly Team Thompson Dance, Brigette Camille Thompson Leonard The Studance LAB, Bonita Saldana East Valley Conscious Dance, Carrie Smith-Hardee Buckeye Full Out Performance Dance Company, Paige & Lauri Ballet Phoenix Academy, Cecilia Fisher (CLOSED) Tamarkin Casa Grande Media by Madison, Madison Foster, Dance Media Amethyst Dance Festival, Krisenna Zipporah Manager Tappy Tots Dance, Audrianna Hoover Mersy G Dance Company, Mersally Avendano Carefree Motivating Movement Creative Space, Alyssa Vacco Studio Kinetics | AlignDanceTheatre, Wendy Ellis Daniello Casa Grande Rockwell Dance & Fitness, Laura Bossio Amethyst Dance Festival, Krisenna Zipporah Turiya Chavez, Choreographer/Educator Tappy Tots Dance, Audrianna Hoover Glendale Cave Creek Balanced Dance Medicine, Dr. Heather Brummett Prima Dance Arizona, Cara Zic Danzarte Danza Folklorica, Nury Rosales Chandler Michelle Dionisio, Educator Aloha Yoga and Hula, Myriam Caballero Valenzuela Globe Arizona Dance Studio, Brooke Stone Lynn’s School of Dance / Desert Power Elite, Tina McCarey Ballet Folklorico Quetzalli Arizona, Vanessa Ramirez Goodyear Classic Image Dance, Shannon Wilson Desert West Dance Academy, Lindsay Butterfield & Desert Star Dance, Ann Bode Rendee Parker Combs Donna Petersen, Choreographer, Educator, Production Doctors for Dancers, Jennifer DePaola Manager Effusion Dance Center, Shalmarie Shook & Anna MAC & Company, Micaela Church Deathrage Nrityalaya Aesthetics Society, Shyla Ganesan Southwest Ballet Theatre, Melissa Zervas Hahne Nrityanjali Institute of Dance, Anjali Shah Desai Litchfield Park Sanskaar Nritya Dance Academy, Guari Bhobe-Sardesai Bravo Dance Family, Alicia Bravo, Leticia Clamor- Southwest Youth Ballet Theatre, Yen-Li Chen Ballet Bravo & Anastacia Robb-Bravo Stacy J Dancing, Stacy J Steppin’ Out Performing Arts, Rachel Owens Guernsey Yumiko Takahashi, Yumi La Rosa, Flamenco Mesa Fountain Hills 8*Count Dance, Andrea Polyak KDA Dance, Kelly Lobb CaZo Dance Company, Bridgette Caron Borzillo CaZo Dance Center, Bridgette Caron Borzillo Encore Dance Center, Regina Owens-Snyder Club Dance Studio, Kelli Lamb Wilkins EPIK Dance Company, Sarah Saza Kent Dance Surge Company, Amanda Smith Flameco del Sol, Deanne Poulos (CLOSED) East Valley Conscious Dance, Carrie Smith-Hardee Flamenco Por La Vida, Angelina Ramirez FUSE Performing Arts Center, Calli Overstreet Fluency Motion 5Rhythms, Melanie Cooley Insurance for Dancers, Jennifer DePaola guiDANCE, Mary Anne Herding JEM Dance, Jennifer Roberts and Lara Adams Hollywood’s Hip Hop Spot, Hollie “Hollywood” Revolution Dance & Academy of the Arts, Ashley Morgan-Garcia Smith Ignite Collaborative, Rosy Mack & Michelle McIntyre Rhythm & Motion Dance Center, Jennifer Miller Indigo Dance Arts Ensemble, Eve Marie Shivers Spotlight Performing Arts, Laura Millett Innerlight Dance Center, Lisa Dionisio and Jeannine The Jukebox Dance Studio, RaeRae LaFemme & Leah Taylor Layuh Roman Inspiracion Flamenca, Julia Chacon Tutu Etoile, Lydia Harmon JMill Productions, Jenefer Ardell Miller Wagner Dance Arts, Denise Wagner Kenda Newbury/NEWDance, Movement E-Motion Peoria Legacy Ballet Academy, Samantha Gobielle (CLOSED) ClassicalFusionDance, Kayley Thompson Liliana Gomez Dance, Liliana Gomez Divine Chaos Tribal Fusion, Shannon Marie Bowers Limitless Dance, Jessica Lim-Hall Lora’s Academy of Dance / L.A. Dance, Lora Wood Movement Source Dance Company, Mary Anne Herding & Marilyn’s Academy of Dance, Marilyn Burns Susan Pine Harris Nritya Shaily School of Kathak, Shaily Bhandari Nathalie & Co. Dancewear and Little Things, Nathalie Oasis Dance, Janine Davina Luna Velasquez Wight Noise Dance Company, Rachel Wight Nian Cadman Dake, Tap, Choreography, Production Phoenix NicoleOlson|MovementChaos, Nicole L Olson 12th Street Costumes and Dancewear North Star Academy of Dance, Karen Robinson Arathi School of Dance Phoenix, Kalashri Asha Gopal One Rhythm Dance Convention, Hutton Peck Arthur Murray Dance Studio, Holly J Udy-Meekin One World Dance & Music, Mahin Sciacca ARTZ on the Move, Heather Wright Schlichting Passion Dance Studio, Deondra Gray (CLOSED) Phoenix Rising Dance Festival, Shannon Marie Bowers Ascend Dance Academy, Kristina Nadjafi Phoenix Youth Ballet Theatre, Samantha Scotto Gobielle AZ Dance Medicine Specialists, Alexis Sams (CLOSED) Ballet Theatre of Phoenix, Jennifer Cafarella Rosenkrans Dance, Angela Rosenkrans Bricks Studio, Mandy Moyes Durante Royal Dance Works, Carole Royal Convergence Ballet, Jennifer Cafarella SambAZ Dancers, Angelique Marquand Starks Dance Studio 111, Kimberly Lewis Scorpius Aerial & Dance Studios, Lisa Moreno-Starry Dance Theater West, Susan Silverman Scorpius Dance Theatre, Lisa Moreno-Starry Diamond Dance Works, Danielle Cicogna Shannon McKenzie Perkins Diane McNeal Hunt/ELEVATE DanceWorks, Diane Sukie Keita, Choreographer/Teaching Artist McNeal Hunt Swexy Squad, Jenny Lynne Iverson Dulce Dance Company, Candy Jimenez Tap 24.7, Suzy Guarino-Hall & Jenefer Ardell Miller The Inner Dancer, Samantha Karim Phoenix Sunday Dance, Nina Smith Yes and Productions, Marlene Strang Tempe Dance Academy, Wanda Manville Queen Creek Think-Motion, Susan Bendix 8*Count Dance, Andrea Polyak Wall-2-Wall Tap Dance Center, Mary Wall NuEvolution Dance Studio, Angie Messner & Rashell Wickenburg Rodriguez Studio Two70 Dance, Tifanie Moore San Tan Valley Dance and Flip Zone, Lori Johnson (CLOSED) SOUTHERN REGION Scottsdale Arizona City Artistry in Motion, Julia Gorchakova Powers Cory Thomas Dance, Cory Thomas Be Beautiful Dance Studio, Brielle Block & Christyn Cory Thomas Design, Cory Thomas Copeland Corona de Tucson CBE COUTURE, Cindy Brinkmeyer The Danzone, Marjorie Janicek Centre Stage Dance Studio, Jenny Creswell Green Valley Dance Connection, Lisa Waddell & Lori Johnson Expressions Dance Company, Janette Salazar-Borboa Dancers Domain, Jenni Hall Nogales DanceSport Education, Elka Hristova & Inna A Step Above School of Performing Arts, Erica Teller Berlyzieva Academia de Danza Stage, Patty Salazar Valdez Dansense-Nrtyabodha, Sumana Balletico, Cristy Del Rincon DC Dance AZ, Christie Sanghi Wieger Stage Dance Studio, Patty Salazar Paula Carr Dance Academy, Paula Carr Oro Valley Plumb Performing Arts Center, Lisa Plumb Pelliteri Center Stage Dance Studio, Katrina Madsen Wyckoff Shahrazad Dance Company, Warda Shahrasad Desert Dance Collective, Lauren Hammond Vogue House of Arizona, Rylee Locker (CLOSED) Leaps For Lives Dance Company, Reness Nasca Sun City Sahuarita Tropical Polynesian Productions, Kuma Kalen Grace! Ballet, Tara Miller Surprise Sahuarita Dance Center, Michele Igasan A Time To Dance Performing Arts Studio, Kim Nottke Sierra Vista Tempe Alma Dolores International Dance Centre, Alma Xibille A Ludwig Dance Theatre, Ann Ludwig Sierra Vista Dance Company LLC, Tanys Leon CONDER/dance, Carley Conder Tucson Dance 101, Emily Finch Arizona Ballet Theatre, Cecily Bressel DanceSport Education, Elka Hristova & Inna AZ On The Move, Whitney Ajeman Berlyzieva Ballet Arts, Mary Beth Cabana & Chieko Imada Desert Dance Theatre, Lisa R. Chow Ballet Folklorico de Arizona, Julie Gallego-Gonzalez Diane McNeal Hunt/ELEVATE DanceWorks, Diane Ballet Folklorico La Paloma, Bettina Montanez & Sylvia McNeal Hunt Lopez Grey Box Collective, Molly W Schenck Ballet Rincon, Jennifer Neuser H.Lab Performance, Harper Piver Ballroom Dance Schools, Stacey Ellen Aldrich MBBC Dance, Tricia Mitchell Barbara Schuessler, Flamenco Barbea Williams Performing Company, Barbea Williams Studio One Arizona, Rachael Reyes-Leslie Berriman Belly Dance Tucson, Jessica Walker Susan Quinn Williams, Choreographer Chezale Presents, Chezale Rodriguez Suzuyuki Kai Dance, Mari Kaneta Circus Sanctuary, Kelsey Erickson Tammy Rosen Wilbur, Modern/Tucson Feldenkrais Compania de Danza Folkorica Arizona, Chantal Danay Ralls Center Dance Force-1/Dance Force-2, April Hoose Tanya Fisher Dance Kelly Style, Colleen Kelly Beaman The Animas Center, Becca Franks Dance of Arabia, Cathy Carden The Tucson Prunes, All Female Board Dance Therapy, Peggy A Davic LCSW Tucson Ballroom Dance Academy, Deborah Frechette Dancehall Darlins’, Lea Petroshus Tucson Movement Arts, Amanda Skaff Dancesequences, Inc., Karenne Koo & Sabrina Geoffrion Viva Performing Arts Center, Julie Gallego-Gonzalez Danswest Dance, Megan Maltos & Jill Johnson Maltos Xanadu Dance Studio Danswest Danswear, Megan Maltos & Jill Johnson Maltos Yarrow King, African Diaspora Dance Danz Revolution/Santa Rita Ballroom, Yolanda Yvonne Montoya Dance Corrales (CLOSED) ZUZI! Dance, Nanette Robinson Double C Dance Studio, Wendy Cameron Hursh Vail Dust Dance Collective, Monique Garcia Integra Dance Arts, Mika Massey & Julie Nichols Esperanza Dance Project, Beth Braun Miscione Willcox Floor Polish Dance Studio, Marina Cornelius Encore Dance Academy, Amy Truschke Flor de Liz Dance Studio, Flor de Liz Norris Yuma FUNhouse movement theater, Sherry Mulholland Arizona Classical Ballet, Erika Farrar-Bowen Gotta Dance! Dance Academy, Anne Fulton Dancemakers, Cindy Turrentine Halau Hula O Ualani, Girlie “Ualani” Abad Dancer’s Workshop of Yuma, Myriah Farrar Kimi Eisele, Choreographer, Dancer Dawn’s Dance Studio, Dawn Atherton Kinetic Arts Tucson, Brenna Mirae Freedom Arts Performing Arts, Deidre Seale Krystyna Parafinczuk, Arts Admin/Educator Fuego Dance Studio, April Salsa Mara Carlson’s Rincon del Tango, Argentine Tango Glam Dance Studio by Cindy Mele Martinez, Flamenco JAMS Dance Company, Myriah Farrar Melissa Alejandra Aguirre, Flamenco, Salsa Jazz of Yuma Dance Company, Dawn Atherton Meredith C Keith-Chirch Moxie Dance, Eden Redman Music and Dance Academy, Nina Tishkevich Mystic Rhythms Ballroom, Eileen O’Daly (CLOSED) Pointe of Grace, Kimberly Aguirre Rodeo City Wreckettes, Carol Ross Safos Dance Theatre, Yvonne Montoya Saguaro Strutters Line Dance Team, Valorie Hanni Rice Shannon Dooling Dances LLC ShowBiz Academy of Dance, Meghan Lloyd Pacek Southwest Dance Academy, Laura Boughan (CLOSED) The women on this list are leaders and role models in our communities. Their businesses are creating dancers and citizens with strong minds and healthy, coordinated bodies.

Dance education, attending dance performances, and dancing are key and ceremonial to building happy communities that prosper—whether for performance, for health, or for social connection and celebration.

266 Support dance education, dance events Women-Owned/Managed and dancing, and you’ll support these women-owned, Dance Businesses women-managed in ARIZONA businesses in AZ! Up 21 from 2020 (245) (10 closures)

44 Towns in AZ North & North Central Arizona Dance Coalition AzDanceCoalition.org 10 town > 30 businesses [email protected] Central The Arizona Dance Coalition is a nonprofit, 24 towns > 150 businesses (7 closures) 501(c)(3) membership-based organization. Southern We work to connect and support the statewide 10 towns > 84 busineess (3 closures) dance communities through our website content, communications, and sponsorship Statewide of educational dance conferences and master 2 dance service organizations classes. We inform, educate, and promote dance arts and their benefits to the general public. 48% of all AZ Dance Businesses are owned and managed by women. (266 of 555 total) Questions about the list may be directed to: Krystyna Parafinczuk, ADC Treasurer [email protected] as of March 8, 2021 520-743-1349 International Women’s Day CHANGES, ADDITIONS, DELETIONS Email: [email protected]

Last updated: March 5, 2021 Photos: Front page Sibylle Acatos-Dadey with student | Scottsdale School of Ballet 2nd from last page Emma MK Cong with student | Yuma Ballet Academy