David Hallberg is known today as one of the world’s greatest ballet dancers, an “ambassador of a new age of ballet” and, most importantly, a tremendous inspiration to young male dancers worldwide. Having grown up right here in the Valley, Hallberg is an esteemed alumnus of the School of Ballet Arizona and the Arizona School for the Arts. As a young boy studying ballet, he knows what it’s like to be bullied and teased incessantly for doing something different than his peers. So, he established the David Hallberg Scholarship for Boys at Ballet Arizona to support the dreams and aspirations of the next generation of male dancers from Phoenix and the State of Arizona. In honor of Hallberg’s influence on the City of Phoenix and the world of dance, Mayor Greg Stanton announces that April 19 will be David Hallberg Day.

WHAT:   A Day with David Hallberg, a fundraiser benefit for the David Hallberg Scholarship for Boys

WHEN:    David Hallberg Day, Sunday, April 19, 2015

WHERE:  Ballet Arizona, 2835 E. Washington St., Phoenix, AZ 85034

Two former recipients of the scholarship are now performing as members of the School of Ballet Arizona’s new Studio Company, which trains and performs alongside the Ballet Arizona professional company.

“I ask for the community’s help so that these boys can discover for themselves the same self-confidence, strong work ethic and focus I learned through studying dance, which is essential in all walks of life. I am donating my time to raise funds so that a very talented group of boys can continue their training and new ones can join them,” says Hallberg.

TO PURCHASE TICKETS OR MAKE A DONATION contact the Ballet Arizona Box Office at 602-381-1096, or balletaz.org. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION ABOUT THE DAVID HALLBERG SCHOLARSHIP, contact George Nunes, Development Director, at gnunes@balletaz.org, or 602.343.6510.