Inside the Sedona Chamber Ballet
Artist Relief Fund dancers in performance. Photo Credit: Beau Campbell
In 2019, Sedona Chamber Ballet (SCB) continued to pursue the mission of showcasing world-class performing arts. In addition to the spectacular Phoenix Ballet Nutcracker production performed in December 2018, we were elated to present Przemyslaw Grzadziela, world renowned mime and clown several times. We spent the balance of the year creating a strategic plan and creating new relationships in the world of professional dance to insure we could continue to provide world class dance live in Sedona. To this end we are thrilled to announce that the Artist Relief Fund, Inc., comprised of 28 professional dancers from the esteemed Ballet Arizona will perform live in Sedona on April 4, 2020.
As Sedona Chamber Ballet’s Chair of the Board and Executive Director, I am committed to continue presenting world-renowned dance artists in Northern Arizona primarily with an emphasis on audience education, in general, and particularly on the cultural education of our local children. It is also the goal of the Sedona Chamber Ballet to make Northern Arizona the future home of a professional Summer retreat for education, exploration, collaboration and production in the field of the performing dance arts. Similar to performing arts residencies, such as the Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival, the Vail International Dance and the Aspen Music and Summer Dance Festivals, Sedona Chamber Ballet envisions a Sedona Summer Dance, Choreography and Music Retreat and Festival to be equally celebrated with worldwide recognition over time. We believe this goal is very achievable as Sedona is widely recognized for its awesome, magical, natural splendor and has a well-established tourist-based infrastructure for which the summer months represent the slow season.
We are most proud that in just five years of existence, The Sedona Chamber Ballet has managed to bring world-class ballet and master classes to the Northern Arizona. We are grateful that the community has recognized the importance of our mission, and we are especially thankful to the City of Sedona for awarding us generous grants toward the production with the Ballet Arizona dancers. In addition, we acknowledge the generous support of the Eye Boutique of Sedona. This level of support is critical for us to continue providing Northern Arizona with outstanding dance programs in the future. Additionally, we are extremely grateful to the Sedona Lodging Council and its members for providing the necessary housing for our world-renowned dancers.
Of course, our success would not have been possible without the tireless efforts of Phoenix Ballet’s Slawomir Wozniak, Artistic Director, and Irena Wozniak, Ballet Mistress. Their combined artistic vision, breathtaking choreography, award-winning master-teaching, life-long passion for the ballet and commitment to sharing this level of dance in our community, have afforded Sedona and Northern Arizona audiences access to magnificent live dance productions. The Sedona Community is and will forever be thankful for their support of the Sedona Arts Community.
Importantly, the SCB relationship with Phoenix Ballet, Dancing Earth, Artist Relief Fund and the Louisville Ballet has had a meaningful impact on our local children, who are being afforded an opportunity to visualize the art of the possible. Several of the young dancers who participated in past year’s Phoenix Ballet The Nutcracker production are now serious ballet students in Phoenix and Sedona. We are so proud of Sedona dancers Jessica LeBlanc, Mari Chang and Miguel Jose Maldonado who have committed to dance as their future profession. These students study dance for over 30 hours a week each and they study with esteemed teachers, including the Wozniaks at Master Ballet Academy, Scottsdale, AZ, Achmed Valk in Sedona, Olga Tarasova, American Ballet Theatre Summer Intensive, Ballet West Summer Intensive, Milwaukee Ballet and the Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet School, Carlisle, PA.
Winifred Muench
Chairman
Sedona Chamber Ballet
Sedona Impresario Productions
As Sedona Chamber Ballet’s Chair of the Board and Executive Director, I am committed to continue presenting world-renowned dance artists in Northern Arizona primarily with an emphasis on audience education, in general, and particularly on the cultural education of our local children. It is also the goal of the Sedona Chamber Ballet to make Northern Arizona the future home of a professional Summer retreat for education, exploration, collaboration and production in the field of the performing dance arts. Similar to performing arts residencies, such as the Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival, the Vail International Dance and the Aspen Music and Summer Dance Festivals, Sedona Chamber Ballet envisions a Sedona Summer Dance, Choreography and Music Retreat and Festival to be equally celebrated with worldwide recognition over time. We believe this goal is very achievable as Sedona is widely recognized for its awesome, magical, natural splendor and has a well-established tourist-based infrastructure for which the summer months represent the slow season.
We are most proud that in just five years of existence, The Sedona Chamber Ballet has managed to bring world-class ballet and master classes to the Northern Arizona. We are grateful that the community has recognized the importance of our mission, and we are especially thankful to the City of Sedona for awarding us generous grants toward the production with the Ballet Arizona dancers. In addition, we acknowledge the generous support of the Eye Boutique of Sedona. This level of support is critical for us to continue providing Northern Arizona with outstanding dance programs in the future. Additionally, we are extremely grateful to the Sedona Lodging Council and its members for providing the necessary housing for our world-renowned dancers.
Of course, our success would not have been possible without the tireless efforts of Phoenix Ballet’s Slawomir Wozniak, Artistic Director, and Irena Wozniak, Ballet Mistress. Their combined artistic vision, breathtaking choreography, award-winning master-teaching, life-long passion for the ballet and commitment to sharing this level of dance in our community, have afforded Sedona and Northern Arizona audiences access to magnificent live dance productions. The Sedona Community is and will forever be thankful for their support of the Sedona Arts Community.
Importantly, the SCB relationship with Phoenix Ballet, Dancing Earth, Artist Relief Fund and the Louisville Ballet has had a meaningful impact on our local children, who are being afforded an opportunity to visualize the art of the possible. Several of the young dancers who participated in past year’s Phoenix Ballet The Nutcracker production are now serious ballet students in Phoenix and Sedona. We are so proud of Sedona dancers Jessica LeBlanc, Mari Chang and Miguel Jose Maldonado who have committed to dance as their future profession. These students study dance for over 30 hours a week each and they study with esteemed teachers, including the Wozniaks at Master Ballet Academy, Scottsdale, AZ, Achmed Valk in Sedona, Olga Tarasova, American Ballet Theatre Summer Intensive, Ballet West Summer Intensive, Milwaukee Ballet and the Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet School, Carlisle, PA.
Winifred Muench
Chairman
Sedona Chamber Ballet
Sedona Impresario Productions
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Winifred Muench moved to Sedona in July 2010, after spending 10 years sailing with her husband on their 47 foot sailboat in the Caribbean, across the Atlantic and the Mediterranean.
She has over 20 years of executive healthcare experience, most recently as a member of the corporate staff at the University of Pennsylvania (UP) as the executive responsible for Venture and Industry Relationships. She was instrumental in the development and implementation of an integrated continuum of health services. Her 15 years of healthcare leadership experience in the areas of business development, financial analyses, budget planning, strategic planning, reimbursement, information systems development, managed care negotiations, merger-acquisitions, and due diligence play a significant role in the successful management of the Sedona Chamber Ballet. She has also had first-hand experience in creating programs in communities for the disadvantaged and has extensive experience in developing community based geriatric services. During her years at UP, she was appointed a Fellow to UP’s Institute on Aging, as well as a Fellow of the America College of Healthcare Executives. Winnie studied ballet with world-renowned teachers early in her life and continues to study today. Winnie’s extensive corporate background allows her to sustain and strengthen the financial foundation and long-term sustainability of the SCB, build awareness of visibility of the organization, research funding sources for ballet and the performing arts, apply for grants and actively solicit support from corporate partners.
She has over 20 years of executive healthcare experience, most recently as a member of the corporate staff at the University of Pennsylvania (UP) as the executive responsible for Venture and Industry Relationships. She was instrumental in the development and implementation of an integrated continuum of health services. Her 15 years of healthcare leadership experience in the areas of business development, financial analyses, budget planning, strategic planning, reimbursement, information systems development, managed care negotiations, merger-acquisitions, and due diligence play a significant role in the successful management of the Sedona Chamber Ballet. She has also had first-hand experience in creating programs in communities for the disadvantaged and has extensive experience in developing community based geriatric services. During her years at UP, she was appointed a Fellow to UP’s Institute on Aging, as well as a Fellow of the America College of Healthcare Executives. Winnie studied ballet with world-renowned teachers early in her life and continues to study today. Winnie’s extensive corporate background allows her to sustain and strengthen the financial foundation and long-term sustainability of the SCB, build awareness of visibility of the organization, research funding sources for ballet and the performing arts, apply for grants and actively solicit support from corporate partners.
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The Sedona Chamber Ballet is a 501c3 nonprofit.
Our Mission 1) To present world-class dance and musical theater artistry onstage. We aim to make all forms of dance relevant, accessible, and inviting to the widest possible audience while maintaining financial stability. 2) To offer artistic immersion in the most significant cultural achievements in the performing arts to all members of the local, national and international arts community in the form of classroom offerings, ensemble performance opportunities and participation in world-class live performances. 3) To support the performing arts by creation, presentation and education. 4) To engage and deepen public appreciation and support for the performing arts. 5) To enrich Sedona and Northern Arizona’s cultural life. |
Board of Directors
Winifred Muench Carolyn Martin Dody Homan Diana McVeay Advisory Board
Bonny Borne-Singer Harriet McInnis Achmed Valk Patrons
City of Sedona Winifred Muench Donors
Dody Homan Betty Williams Susan Williams |
