Southwest Youth Ballet Theatre

Yen-Li Chen - Artistic Director


Our Mission is: "To inspire dreams, participation, community and excellence through the gift of dance."


Southwest Youth Ballet Theatre Inc. is dedicated to the development and advancement of ballet students ages 13-18 years of age who aspire to a professional career in ballet. Southwest Youth Ballet Theatre Inc. not only provides excellence in pre-professional training and achievement in artistry, SWYBT also provides a variety of educational outreach and community outreach programs for the enrichment of our communities. Southwest Youth Ballet Theatre Inc. receives its artistic guidance from a renowned principal dancer, Yen-Li Chen, who serves as the Artistic Director.


Placeholder Picture

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.

Board of Directors
Yen-Li Chen - Artistic Director
Mary Madine - President
Qisheng Zhang - Vice President
Emily Andersen - Secretary
Stephanie Boucher - Treasurer
Hannah Hockersmith - Marketing Director & Bookkeeper
Ski Taniguchi - At Large