Ballet Arizona is thrilled to announce it recently received a multi-year gift in the amount of $500,000 from Mr. F. Francis & Mrs. Dionne Najafi of the Pivotal Group, a private entrepreneurial investment firm. This unrestricted gift will support the production and operating costs that Ballet Arizona incurs to produce its six mainstage performances over the next five years. The Najafi’s will be recognized as the Opening Night Series sponsor for each performance.

“We have been impressed with the artistic excellence, the strong leadership, and the financial stability of Ballet Arizona over the years,” said Francis Najafi, Founder and CEO of Pivotal Group. “We wanted to show our support for those achievements with a gift that provided ongoing support. We believe Ballet Arizona is an integral part of the arts in our community and so we wanted to invest in its continued success.”

“Ballet Arizona is deeply grateful to Mr. and Mrs. Najafi for making such a significant commitment to Ballet Arizona,” said Samantha Turner, Executive Director. “In the earliest days of the pandemic, they called a meeting with us and said, ‘we know you are suffering, and we want to help to make sure you get through this time.’ Their support was an integral part of our Be Our Bridge Recovery Fund last year, and they have been steadfast in their commitment to our organization.”

Ballet Arizona is the only professional ballet company in the Valley and an integral part of the Phoenix
Metropolitan arts community. The artistry and athleticism of the dancers with Ballet Arizona attracts thousands of community members throughout the year to enjoy staged productions, free community engagement events and education that expands the love of ballet in underserved communities. Philanthropists such as the Najafi family are doing everything they can to ensure that the community has a continued legacy of art, dance, and culture for the future generations of Arizona.

For more information about Ballet Arizona and upcoming performances, visit balletaz.org.

About Ballet Arizona
Ballet Arizona is dedicated to preserving and celebrating classical dance while creating new and innovative works. Under the artistic direction of internationally acclaimed choreographer Ib Andersen - a former Principal Dancer with The New York City Ballet and The Royal Danish Ballet - Ballet Arizona follows his lead to the future of dance in Arizona. The School of Ballet Arizona promotes access to the art form of ballet through dance education, with a focus on excellence in the form, directing each student to a life-long love of dance. Following this vision, Ballet Arizona connects to more than 35,000 children and families every year through its free and low-cost outreach programs. For more information, visit balletaz.org.

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