Arizona Dance Coalition

National DANCE Day
2026-09-19 | AZ
As of February 2019 the Dizzy Feet Foundation is now the American Dance Movement, sponsor of National Dance Day held on the 3rd Saturday in September each year.

https://americandancemovement.org/national-dance-day/
https://www.facebook.com/AmericanDanceMovement/

History: Established in 2010 by Dizzy Feet co-founder, Nigel Lythgoe, National Dance Day is an annual celebration dedicated to dance, that encourages Americans of all ages to incorporate dance into their lives. By creating a focused day of celebration, Dizzy Feet Foundation aims to educate the public about dance and its many benefits, as well as make dance accessible and inclusive to everyone.
National Dance Day (NDD) is a day of celebrating dance, in all its forms. Accessible to everyone at every ability level, National Dance Day provides:
• An instructional video, made available online, for people to view, learn and share with others wherever they are
• Events hosted in key cities, providing free dance classes and performances for all ages and skills levels, with information from a range of community dance organizations
• Nationwide Event Registration that encourages and supports individuals & communities, as they celebrate NDD
• Strong online presence, allowing everyone to participate, no matter where they are across America
Visit the website for up-to-date information on videos and events around the country.
What are you doing to celebrate NATIONAL DANCE DAY?

The 27th Annual Arizona Dance Festival 2026 (Tempe)
2026-09-24 18:30 - 21:30, 2026-09-25 18:30 - 21:30, 2026-09-26 18:00 - 22:00 (America/Phoenix) | Tempe Center for the Arts, 700 West Rio Salado Parkway, Tempe, 85281, United States
The 27th Annual Arizona Dance Festival 2026
Presented by DESERT DANCE THEATRE
Co-sponsored by Arizona Dance Coalition
September 24-26, 2026
Thursday & Friday at 6:30pm-9:30pm, Saturday at 6:00pm-10:00pm
Tempe Center for the Arts – Studio, 700 West Rio Salado Parkway, Tempe, AZ 85281
COST: $25 Adult, $23 Senior/ Military, $20 Student / Group of 10+ (*Plus service fees)
$35 VIP Preferred Seating (*Plus service fees)
Discounts for Friends of Desert Dance Theatre with Promo Code (*Plus service fees)
Discounts available for multiple day purchases (*Plus service fees)
TICKETS: TCA Box Office: 480-350-2822
Online: more to come
SHOW INFO: more to come
FACEBOOK Event Page: more to come
Arizona Dance Festival 2026
Desert Dance Theatre will present the 27th Annual Arizona Dance Festival 2026 at Tempe Center for the Arts (TCA) Studio on Thursday-Saturday, September 24-26, 2026 at 7:00pm-10:00pm.
Special interactive pre-show performances will occur in the lobby on Thursday and Friday, September 24th and 25th at 6:30pm-7:00pm, and on Saturday, September 26 at 6:00pm-7:00pm in the TCA Lobby. Featured groups to be announced soon. This portion of the evening is FREE to the PUBLIC.
The Arizona Dance Festival will feature over 30 different dance artists and companies, showcasing an eclectic variety of choreography and dance performances from around the state of Arizona and out of state. This unique setting will give audiences a taste of what is happening in Arizona’s dance scene. It is a perfect platform for dance companies to get exposure, promote their work, and to connect with others in the dance community and the general public. Each evening performance will showcase different dance artists including emerging artists as well as professional companies from all genres and styles of dance.
A post-performance “Q & A” / “Talk Back” will be facilitated by the Arizona Dance Coalition directly after the show. This will allow the audience to engage in lively conversation with the artistic directors and choreographers for a deeper dive into insights in the creation of their dance works.
A list of the line-up for each night is coming soon!
Contact Lisa Chow for more information at 602-740-9616.
MORE INFO COMING SOON!

Parsons Dance
2026-11-21 19:30 | Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts, 7380 E Second St, Scottsdale, 85251, United States
A longtime Center favorite returning after eight years, Parsons Dance delivers heart, athleticism, and pure joy in motion. It’s the kind of contemporary dance that will bring you to your feet, no matter your age or dance background.
Known for its energetic style, Parsons Dance is internationally renowned for creating and performing contemporary American dance. Parsons’s bold ensemble work and movement has solidified it as one of the world’s leading dance companies. Works like the iconic Caught exemplify the company’s innovation and massive audience appeal. Parsons Dance will thrill audiences with its effortless movement and stunning dancers.
“It does not take long to see why Parsons and his company are one of the hottest tickets in contemporary American dance.” — New York Post
“This is a ‘dance your heart out’ (at all times, no excuses) kind of enterprise.” — The New York Times

BalletX
2027-01-30 19:30 | Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts, 7380 E Second St, Scottsdale, 85251, United States
Don’t miss the Arizona premiere of BalletX, a company that honors the classical ballet tradition while boldly advancing the art form into exciting new territory.
Forging works of athleticism, emotion, and grace, BalletX is Philadelphia’s premier contemporary ballet. The Philadelphia Inquirer called the company “art in motion,” while using words like controlled, sleek, stunning, inventive, musical, and surreal to describe BalletX’s performances. This is “dancing that you feel as you watch,” according to The New York Times.
The program will include Become a Mountain, a dance that simulates the arc of a mountain climb, unfolding in three parts; Scales on the Wings of a Butterfly, a meditation on the beauty and complexity that exist beyond the limits of human perception; and Sojourner, where jazz-inspired dancers become their own instruments, creating a rich tapestry.
About the Company
Founded in 2005 and led by Artistic & Executive Director Christine Cox, the company has commissioned more than 80 choreographers from around the world to produce 150 world premieres that are “fresh, inclusive, and connect to what people want” (Philadelphia Citizen). With a versatile and diverse ensemble of 16 dancers, hailed as “among America’s best” by The New York Times, BalletX pushes the boundaries of classical ballet to tell today’s stories with passion, creativity, and exuberance. As a vibrant global incubator for artistic talent, the company makes ballet accessible and inviting, captivating audiences at prestigious venues, including The Kennedy Center, Vail Dance Festival, The Joyce Theater, and Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival. Through performances, international touring, and meaningful community outreach, BalletX creates extraordinary dance experiences that inspire human connection.

Black Grace
2027-03-06 19:30 | Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts, 7380 E Second St, Scottsdale, 85251, United States
Making its Arizona debut, Black Grace brings the raw power and ceremonial depth of Pacific Island movement traditions to the stage as it redefines what contemporary dance can be.
Noting the company’s innovative flair and theatricality, The Boston Globe says Black Grace “packs the raw visceral power of a primal communal rite into a carefully constructed form of rigor and sophistication.” The work itself is highly physical, rich in the storytelling traditions of the South Pacific, and expressed with unique beauty and finesse.
Drawing from his Samoan and New Zealand roots to create innovative dance works that reach across social, cultural, and generational barriers, Artistic Director Neil Ieremia has changed the face of contemporary dance in New Zealand and turned Black Grace into one of the most recognizable and iconic cultural brands.
“The distinguishing spirit of this troupe is incredible speed and stamina, an exhilarating, seemingly inexhaustible energy.” — The New York Times
About the Company
Black Grace is New Zealand’s leading contemporary dance company. It was founded in 1995 by Neil Ieremia (Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit), one of New Zealand’s most accomplished choreographers, a creative entrepreneur, and an inspirational leader. Ieremia draws from his Samoan and New Zealand roots to create innovative dance works that reach across social, cultural, and generational barriers. The Company features some of New Zealand’s finest dancers and has toured internationally to Europe, Japan, South Korea, Mexico, Australia, and New Caledonia. In 2004, Black Grace made its US debut, performing a sold-out season at Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival.

Ballet Arizona | Ballet in the Making
2027-06-12 14:00 - 15:00, 2027-06-12 19:30 - 20:30 | Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts, 7380 E Second St, Scottsdale, 85251, United States
Experience a collection of movement works-in-progress, created by dancers who have stepped into the role of choreographers!Experience a collection of movement works-in-progress, created by dancers who have stepped into the role of choreographers!
Ballet Arizona’s new choreographic initiative for emerging voices marks the inaugural program of its kind and is a capstone to the company’s 40th anniversary season. These dancers have created original pieces through experimentation and collaboration. And now, these staged works-in-progress invite audiences to observe original ballet at the cusp of evolution.
Presented in partnership with Ballet Arizona.

About Ballet Arizona
Founded in 1986 from the merger of three companies, Ballet Arizona has become the Southwest’s premier professional ballet company. In 2000, Ib Andersen joined Ballet Arizona as artistic director, and under his leadership, Ballet Arizona mounted many seasons of successful ballet performances. Today, the company consists of about 30 dancers under the new artistic direction of internationally acclaimed dancer, choreographer, and arts leader Daniela Cardim. Cardim was a soloist at Ballet of Municipal Theatre of Rio de Janeiro and has choreographed works for myriad internationally recognized ballet companies. Ballet Arizona is dedicated to preserving and celebrating classical dance while creating and commissioning new, innovative works. The company is committed to supporting diversity throughout its organization and communities, and it takes pride in sharing the rich tradition of classical ballet and the contemporary evolution of the art form with Arizona audiences.
