Ballet Arizona Welcomes James Payne as New Faculty Director

Share

Share

Share

Email

The School of Ballet Arizona, the official training school of Ballet Arizona, is thrilled to welcome James Payne as its new school director, with his tenure beginning on May 27.

The School of Ballet Arizona offers comprehensive ballet education for students of all ages and skill levels, from beginner to pre-professional. The School’s curriculum emphasizes classic ballet technique, artistry and performance opportunities, guided by experienced faculty who bring professional expertise to the studio. With a commitment to excellence and individual growth, The School fosters a love for dance while preparing students for a future in the arts or beyond.

A respected figure in ballet education boasting over 35 years of professional experience in the art, Payne comes to Ballet Arizona from Ballet West in Salt Lake City, Utah, where he served as the Principal Faculty and Trainee Coordinator at the organization’s Academy for three years.

The move represents a homecoming for Payne, who began his training in Phoenix with Russian choreographer and dancer, Michel Fokine’s great niece Nina Marlow before moving on to a performing career with Ballet West (1989-1994) and Houston Ballet (1994-2001), which afforded him the opportunity to perform internationally, working with exceptional choreographers and coaches.

Excelling at both classical and contemporary work allowed him to perform soloist and principal roles in all the classics as well as work by Ben Stevenson, Christopher Bruce, Ronald Hynd, George Balanchine, Val Caniparoli, Glen Tetley, William Forsythe, John Neumeier, Eugene Loring, Helgi Tomasson, Peter Martins, Jiri Kylian, Trey McIntyre and more.

After retiring from performing, James Payne took on the role of company manager at Houston Ballet before co-founding and leading a student performing company and school in The Woodlands, Texas, for 17 years. His extensive career also includes choreographing and producing five full-length ballets and numerous one-act works, as well as serving as School Director for Philadelphia Ballet, a faculty member at Houston Ballet Academy, and a board member of the American Guild of Musical Artists (AGMA).

Today, Payne continues to serve as a master teacher and judge for Youth America Grand Prix (YAGP) and repetiteur for renowned dancer Trey McIntyre, staging his ballets internationally. After his family, Jim’s biggest passion is teaching and mentoring the next generation of artists.

“It is with both humility and excitement that I accept the position of School Director. I am deeply honored by the confidence that Daniela Cardim and Jami Kozemczak have placed in me to lead this team into the future. The School plays a pivotal role in the overall growth and long-term success of the Ballet Arizona, and we have a unique opportunity to elevate The School of Ballet Arizona to the next level,” said Payne. “While this will certainly be a challenging endeavor, I bring years of experience in building and leading schools, and I am confident that together as a team, we will combine our expertise, creativity, and dedication to create a destination School that will usher in the next generation of dancers.”

“It is with great excitement that we welcome James Payne as the new School Director for the School of Ballet Arizona,” said Jami Kozemczak, executive director of Ballet Arizona. “James brings a wealth of experience, passion and vision to this role. His dedication to the development of young dancers and his commitment to excellence align perfectly with our mission to foster the next generation of artists. Under his leadership, the school will continue to grow and thrive, providing exceptional training and opportunities for all our students.”

For more information about The School of Ballet Arizona, please visit https://balletaz.org/school/

Source link