Staff Reports | Happenings & Events
Ballet Arizona has added five new dancers to its ensemble for the 2025-26 season.
Under the artistic direction of internationally acclaimed dancer and choreographer Daniela Cardim, the company now features 33 artists.
According to a press release, this season’s repertoire includes “The Sleeping Beauty,” “The Nutcracker,” “ALICE (in Wonderland),” “Cacti & Other Works,” and “An Evening at Desert Botanical Garden.”
The newest members of Ballet Arizona’s company are:
Veronica Hanson began her ballet training in 2018 at Hunterdon Hills Ballet under Elaine Matthews, later joining the School of American Ballet’s year-round program in 2020. While at the School of American Ballet, she performed in George Balanchine classics including “Serenade,” “La Source,” and “Piano Concerto No. 2,” culminating in her 2025 graduation performances of “Raymonda Variations” and “Glass Pieces.”
Madison Penney, an Arizona native, began dancing at a young age and joined Master Ballet Academy at eight to focus on ballet. She earned top honors at major competitions including the World Ballet Competition and Youth America Grand Prix and graduated from The Royal Ballet School in 2022. After dancing with Birmingham Royal Ballet and Atlanta Ballet, Penney is returning home to perform with Ballet Arizona this season.
Braden Pollack, originally from Chatham, New Jersey, trained for 10 years at the School of American Ballet, performing with New York City Ballet in productions like “The Nutcracker,” “Swan Lake,” and “Firebird.” He has appeared on television in truTV’s “At Home with Amy Sedaris” and HBO Max’s “And Just Like That” and joined Ballet Arizona in 2025.
McKenzie Thomas, a Colorado native, began dancing at the age of three and discovered her passion for ballet at 15. She trained at Zamuel Ballet School in Colorado Springs before completing her classical training at Master Ballet Academy in Scottsdale under Slawomir and Irena Wozniak. Thomas danced with Colorado Ballet Studio Company for two seasons and later joined Orlando Ballet as a company artist from 2021 to 2023.
Greg Trechel, originally from upstate New York, began dancing at age five at the Northeast Ballet School and later trained at the Miami City Ballet School, where he performed works by Alexei Ratmansky, John Cranko and others. He has appeared as a guest artist in George Balanchine’s “The Nutcracker” with Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet and joined Ballet Arizona’s Studio Company in 2024, performing pieces by Cardim, Ib Andersen, Annabelle Lopez Ochoa and Balanchine. In 2025, he attended the contemporary ballet program at Jacob’s Pillow and is now preparing for his second season with Ballet Arizona.
“We are thrilled to welcome these exceptional artists to Ballet Arizona,” Ms. Cardim. “Each dancer brings a distinct voice, remarkable technique and deep passion for the art form. Their presence will not only enrich our company’s dynamic but also elevate the artistic experience we offer our audiences throughout the 2025-26 season.”
