Authentic passion for Dance
Yen-Li Chen
Artisitic Director
Mary Madine
President
Qisheng Zhang
Vice-President
Emily Andersen
Secretary
Stephanie Boucher
Treasurer
Hannah Hockersmith
Marketing
Ski Taniguchi
Director & Photography
Beka Francis
Director & Book Keeper
Our Mission is: "To inspire dreams, participation, community and excellence through the gift of dance."
Southwest Youth Ballet Theatre (SWYBT). is dedicated to the development and advancement of ballet students ages 13-18 years of age who aspire to a professional career in ballet. SWYBT not only provides excellence in pre-professional training and achievement in artistry, but also provides a variety of educational outreach and community outreach programs for the enrichment of our communities. Southwest Youth Ballet Theatre receives its artistic guidance from renowned principal dancer, Yen-Li Chen, who serves as the Artistic Director.
Yen-Li Chen's dancing has been praised by critics and audiences from Asia to South America and throughout the United States. She has been an invited guest artist at the Festival International de Caracas - Venezuela, The Santiago international Festival - Chile, in Taipei, Taiwan and at several dance companies across North America. A remarkable mastery of technique and artistry in both classical and contemporary repertory has earned Ms. Chen accolades of audiences throughout the world. Her repertory includes title roles in Giselle, Coppelia, Romeo and Juliet, Swan Lake, the Nutcracker and numerous others. Ms. Chen has thrilled Arizona audiences since 1992. Ms. Chen brings the same passion and artistry of her dancing into the classroom as a master teacher. She has guest taught at numerous ballet schools in Taiwan, Texas, Oregon, Arizona and California. In Taiwan, her early training in Vaganova and other ballet techniques has served her well as a dancer and a teacher. Ms. Chen currently resides in Chandler, Arizona with her husband and former Ballet Arizona principal dancer, Qisheng Zhang, and their two children.
Above: Cast of Celebration 2024 with choreographer Kleiton Sistélos and guest artist and choreographer Helio Lima.
Right: Arizona Dance Festival 2022 Tempe Center for the Arts
Each member of the Southwest Youth Ballet Theatre's board of directors has a passion for dance and dance education. Our Artistic Director Yen-Li Chen and her husband, our vice president, are both former principal dancers with Ballet Arizona. Our president has a bachelor’s in fine arts in ballet, dancing for a couple of years with Fountainhead Tanz Theatre before attending ASU for a master’s degree in computer science. Our marketing director has a bachelor’s degree in marketing and a minor in ballet and is a former SWYBT company member. Emily, our secretary has a MBA and is also a former SWYBT company member and continues dancing through the valley. Our treasurer is a parent of two former SWYBT alumni and our director at large is the parent of a frequent guest artist. The volunteer board of directors have a strong sense of gratitude to all who have contributed to their dance careers and education instilling a desire to give back to the next generation in a true pay it forward fashion.
"Each season Southwest Youth Ballet Theatre brings in choreographers to set dances on the company to provide the unique experience of working with a choreographer. Often the dances are created for the dancers resulting in a world preimer. It is an educational experience aligned with preparing a dancer training for a professional career in a ballet company"
SWYBT’s season runs from August to early June offering a 38-week unpaid contract that requires dedication, discipline and determination. In return, each dancer is given several performance opportunities, including performing with a live orchestra during Nutcracker, working with choreographers, field trips to see professional dancers perform, community outreach opportunities and study in other dance styles in addition to a primary focus on ballet. Nutcracker, Nutcracker Tea and the end of season Celebration not only builds responsibility and artistry but lifelong friendships.