Rose Petal Education Foundation Inc

Tickets for The Nutcracker are now available for purchase by clicking here: The Nutcracker Ballet - Tickets. Show dates and times are December 21st and 22nd at 2pm.

Help Save the 16th Annual Nutcracker Ballet!

For 16 years, Dancing In the Streets AZ has brought the magic of The Nutcracker to life, creating a stage where young dancers from diverse backgrounds shine. However, this year, we face an urgent challenge: without raising $40,000 by December 15, 2024, we will not be able to hold our beloved annual performance.

Why The Nutcracker Matters:

A Performance Opportunity for All

Our production provides students—many from under represented or underserved communities—a chance to experience the thrill of performing on stage. For many, it’s their first experience showcasing their talents before a live audience.

Building Confidence and Lifelong Skills

The Nutcracker instills discipline, teamwork, and self-expression, teaching students skills that transcend dance and enrich their lives.

Creating Accessible Arts

We provide low-cost ballet lessons for traditional and non-traditional students, including at-risk youth and low-income families, ensuring they have the opportunity to experience this classic art form. Additionally, we create a welcoming, non-intimidating environment for new audience members to enjoy ballet productions, making the arts accessible and inclusive for all.

Live Orchestra Creates Magic and Firsts

A live orchestra brings the Nutcracker ballet to life, by creating an immersive, emotionally rich experience for both the performers and audience, with the iconic Tchaikovsky’s score and offering many their first chance to experience live orchestral music.

We understand the importance of supporting local talent and fostering a vibrant cultural scene in our community. Your contribution will not only be a vital investment in the success of the Nutcracker ballet but will also make a lasting impact on the cultural landscape of our town. Your support, regardless of the level or amount, will play a crucial role in bringing this magical production to life.

A Message from Our Founders (video link)

Sponsorship Levels for The Nutcracker:

Exclusive logo placement in all promotional materials

Full page ad in any performance program

2 VIP tickets to the performance

Recognition during pre-show announcements

Logo placement on event posters and programs

4 Complimentary tickets to the performance

Acknowledgment in press releases and social media

promotions

Recognition in event programs

2 Complimentary tickets to the performance

Verbal acknowledgment during the intermission

Name listing in event programs

Gratitude on our organization's website

Dancing in the Streets Arizona (DITSAZ) is both a well-appointed ballet studio and a laboratory for success. DITSAZ was founded in 2008 by husband and wife team Soleste Lupu and Joseph Rodgers, who met in ballet school in Tucson, and with a modest sum of money received in celebration of their wedding. The DITSAZ studio is located in South Tucson, a one-square mile city surrounded by the City of Tucson that maintains a strong cultural heritage, but struggles with high crime rates and poverty. The mission of DITSAZ is to use the power of dance to transform lives using the excitement and discipline of ballet to guide children in developing positive life skills; and to break down cultural barriers and enrich the community’s artistic experience.

Dancing In The Streets AZ is a ballet organization dedicated to fostering creativity, cultural exchange, and community engagement through dance. Our mission is to promote and celebrate the transformative power of dance, providing accessible opportunities for artistic expression, education, and performance.

At the core of our organization’s work is the belief that dance has the ability to inspire, connect, and empower individuals and communities. We strive to create a vibrant and inclusive cultural environment where people from diverse backgrounds can come together to experience the joy and richness of dance. Our organization focuses on several key areas to fulfill our mission:

Performance: We curate and produce high-quality dance performances. These performances feature both professional dancers along side emerging artists, providing a platform for artistic expression and innovation, and an inspiration to our students.

Education: We offer dance education programs for people of all ages and skill levels. Our classes, workshops, and residencies are designed to provide accessible and inclusive opportunities for individuals to learn and explore various dance styles. We believe in the power of dance education to nurture creativity, develop physical fitness, and build self-confidence.

Community Engagement: We actively engage with the community by organizing events, festivals, and outreach programs that bring dance into public spaces and underserved areas. Through these initiatives, we aim to make dance accessible to a broader audience, promote cultural understanding, and foster community cohesion.

Collaboration: We value collaboration with other arts organizations, schools, community centers, and local artists. By working together, we aim to create synergistic partnerships that amplify our collective impact, promote cross-cultural exchange, and support the growth of the local dance community.

Through our diverse programming and initiatives, Dancing In The Streets AZ strives to enrich the cultural landscape of our region, inspire individuals to explore their artistic potential, and create meaningful connections within our community. We believe that by embracing the universal language of dance, we can promote empathy, celebrate diversity, and contribute to the overall well-being and vitality of our society.

The students take classes and perform in professional settings regardless of their income level, physical shape/size, or skill level. DITSAZ has served children with incarcerated parents, victims of abuse, those with serious physical and developmental disabilities, as well as non-traditional ballet students, such as overweight children or those with other physical limitations. Thirty-seven of our students were referred by the Juvenile Court to complete community service, many of whom continued on as students after their terms of service were completed. Regardless of background or how they became involved, these students have discovered they can do more than they ever thought—not just across the dance floor, but in the classroom, in their family, and in their community. DITSAZ has demonstrated that dance education provides at-risk youth, and all students, a vehicle to experience positive teamwork and discipline, develop friendships that challenge cultural barriers, and most, important, experience accomplishments that serve to broaden their sense of life possibilities. No one is ever turned away if they want to learn.

For more information, please visit our website Dancing in the Streets AZ.

Please note: As Dancing in the Streets AZ awaits reinstatement of its 501(c)3 status from the IRS, donated funds will be managed by the Rose Petal Foundation, a 501(c)3 based in Tucson, AZ. Donations are tax-deductible as allowed by law.