Go on a magical journey with the Nutcracker and Clara as they battle oversized mice and celebrate their victory with the Sugar Plum Fairy in the Land of the Sweets. Southwest Youth Ballet Theatre’s The Nutcracker is a family favorite! Live music by Chandler Symphony Orchestra. Under the direction of renown ballerina, Yen-Li Chen, Southwest Youth Ballet Theatre is now in their eighteenth season and excited to once again share this beloved holiday tradition with you and your family.

The Nutcracker on sale now!

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Southwest Youth Ballet THeatre

Our company

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


The Southwest Youth Ballet Theatre was established in 2005 with the vision of providing an extensive high quality pre-professional training program for serious ballet students. In 2007 the company received its 501 (C) (3) non-profit public charity status and entered into its first operational year, holding auditions for company members and performing their first full length ballet, The Nutcracker.  In 2009 the company hired the Chandler Symphony Orchestra to join them in The Nutcracker which proved to be a perfect addition and a lasting partnership. In 2010, the first Dance and Romance event was held at the Tempe Center for the Arts; showcasing the company’s talent which has since evolved into the end of season performance Celebration.  The company is comprised of dancers aged 13-18 years old, the artistic director and an all volunteer board of directors.

 The dancers are dedicated to the study of ballet and the advancement of their artistry and performance skills. The dancer’s contracts run from August to June each year and many of the dancers continue to study at various prestigious summer programs throughout the United States.  Now in their 18th season, Southwest Youth Ballet Theatre continues to educate the company dancers through performances opportunities such as The Nutcracker, The Nutcracker Tea, and Celebration.  The addition of dancing with live music, participating in outreaches and festivals, working with choreograpers and field trips to see professional dancers perform rounds out the education provided by Southwest Youth Ballet Theatre. 
Come experience our joy for dance!

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The Nutcracker

Come experience the family beloved ballet The Nutcracker as Southwest Youth Ballet Theatre (SWYBT), now in it's 18th season, takes the stage at the Higley Center for the Performing Arts with live music performed by Chandler Symphony Orchestra (CSO).  SWYBT and CSO has partnered to bring this holiday classic to East Valley audiences since 2009.

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Celebration

Celebration is Southwest Youth Ballet Theatre's end of season performance. It's a free performance to thank our supporting communities. Celebration also serves as an outreach to allow the community to experience the art of ballet without the concerns of affordability. Audiences can experience dance styles such as ballet, modern, jazz and character with some dances featuring premier choreography. Come celebrate with us at Tempe Center for the Arts! Next performance, May 30th 2025
Celebration is supported in part by the Arizona Commission on the Arts, which receives support from the State of Arizona and the National Endowment for the Arts.

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