The Diamond Conservatory of Ballet is designed for serious, professionally-minded ballet students who are currently at an intermediate or advanced level and want to achieve their highest level of ability in ballet. The program is selective, and accepted students are chosen based on their mental readiness and professional potential. Admitted dancers will be placed into either the intermediate or advanced program based on their current abilities.

This program meets the needs of today's elite level dancers and allows them to train more rigorously. Students can expect to receive nurturing and attentive training, and small class size allows for a great amount of individual attention and growth.

Dancers admitted into the conservatory program receive priority casting in The Nutcracker, their own spring performance with included coaching, the opportunity to learn classical repertoire, and mentoring for their future goals.

Students in the Conservatory Program aim to be accepted into top ballet summer intensive programs across the country and may aspire to dance professionally or to be accepted into top dance universities.

As elite level athletic artists, DCB students are expected to train year-round to maintain their strength. The Diamond Conservatory of Ballet will offer summer training programs and will also facilitate their students attending nationally respected out of state ballet academies during the summer months if so desired.

All students in the Conservatory program will be mentored on their path to achieving their artistic goals based on their individual needs and aspirations.

To enroll in the Diamond Conservatory of Ballet:

New students:

Auditions for the Diamond Conservatory of Ballet for the 2025-2026 season will take place on May 17th at 11:30AM. The audition fee is $25. If you miss the audition please reach out to our director for options. If you miss May 17th, our makeup audition is June 12th, 2024 2:30pm-4:00pm.

The audition is geared toward students ages approximately 9 and up who are already training in ballet and are at or near a pre-pointe level, as well as for dancers already on pointe. Dancers with only a beginning level of ballet training are encouraged to continue training for another year before auditioning.

Students training on pointe should bring their pointe shoes for potential placement into one of the ballet conservatory’s pointe levels.

Dancers should wear a black leotard, pink tights, and pink ballet shoes and should bring their audition fee along with the registration form.

Please note that admittance to the program is selective.

Evening Program 2025-2026

Kanako Imayoshi

Conservatory Director/teacher

anako Imayoshi embarked on her ballet journey in Fukuoka, Japan, where she began her training. Her passion and talent led her to join the Reiko Matsuoka Ballet Institute, where she had opportunities to showcase her skills across Russia, China, and Japan. Recognizing her dedication and ability, Kanako was awarded a scholarship to pursue advanced training in Paris. She further developed her technique at the Beijing Ballet School, the Joffrey Ballet School, the City Ballet School in California, and under the guidance of Maria Vegh at the Maria Vegh Ballet Centre in Petaluma, California.

Kanako's dance career spans performances with notable ballet companies such as Peninsula Ballet Theatre, Idaho Ballet, Alaska’s North Star Ballet, Ballet Hawaii, Tau Dance Theatre, and the Reiko Matsuoka Ballet. In 2001, she joined Ballet Arizona, where she had the privilege of originating roles in Ib Andersen’s captivating ballets including Indigo Rhapsody, Elevations, Mosaik, Preludes and Fugues, Play, and A Midsummer Night’s Dream (as Hippolyta). She showcased her talent in principal roles such as Myrtha in Giselle, the iconic Sugar Plum Fairy in Andersen’s The Nutcracker, and Mercedes, the Street Dancer, and the Queen of the Dryads in Don Quixote. Additionally, she portrayed Polyhymnia in Apollo.

Throughout her career, Kanako delighted audiences in leading roles such as Coquette in George Balanchine's La Sonnambula, demonstrating her versatility in Balanchine’s masterpieces including Divertimento No. 15, Serenade, Allegro Brillante, and the fiery Rubies from Jewels. She also brought her artistry and grace to Bournonville’s Konservatoriet. Her repertoire expanded further with soloist roles in beloved classics such as Swan Lake, Coppélia, Les Sylphides, Ib Andersen’s Romeo and Juliet, and Balanchine’s Theme and Variations and La Valse.

Following her retirement from Ballet Arizona, Kanako became a certified Gyrotonic instructor. She continues to channel her passion for ballet into teaching and private coaching, offering guidance and inspiration to students, professional dancers, and adult learners alike. Her impact extends beyond borders, as she frequently travels to Japan as a guest artist and dance coach, sharing her knowledge and expertise with a global community of dancers. Her career stands as a testament to her dedication, artistry, and commitment to nurturing the next generation of ballet artists.

Katharine Frey - Conservatory program teacher

Katharine Frey’s early training began at Indiana University School of Music. She was awarded annual scholarships to the School of American Ballet (SAB) and spent a year training with the Royal Danish Ballet.

She began her professional career at the age of seventeen, joining the Atlanta Ballet, followed by Madison Ballet, Milwaukee Ballet, Ballet Metropolitan, and Arizona Dance Theatre. She was a founding member of Ballet Arizona. She performed corps de ballet, soloist, and principal roles in classical and contemporary ballets. At age twenty-seven, she began assisting Ballet Arizona director/choreographer Jean Paul Comelin in staging his works. At age thirty-five, she took on full responsibilities of ballet mistress, repetiteur, and rehearsal director of Ballet Arizona where she worked for sixteen years.

Katharine has instructed ballet and pointe technique for over forty-six years. She has assisted many notables (Violette Verdy, Frederic Franklin, Gary Masters, Patricia Neary) in staging numerous ballets (Swan Lake, Giselle, Cinderella, Coppelia) and has been exposed to and influenced by various styles of dance (Petipa, Balanchine, Limon, Taylor).

Samantha Gray - CONSERVATORY PROGRAM TEACHER

Samantha started dancing at three and began her formal ballet training at New Jersey School of Ballet at age eight. She became a member of the New Jersey Ballet Junior Company, where she performed and toured nationally with the New Jersey Ballet Company. There, she danced corps de ballet roles in Giselle, Sleeping Beauty, Esmeralda, & soloist roles in The Nutcracker. Samantha graduated with honors from Alonzo King's LINES Ballet BFA program at Dominican University of California, where she performed original contemporary ballet works by Alonzo King, Maurya Kerr, and Gregory Dawson. Upon graduation, she moved to Arizona and joined Terpsicore Dance Company for three seasons, where she performed in contemporary works, and principal roles in The Nutcracker and Paquita. Samantha currently dances with Convergence Ballet Company where she has danced various classical and contemporary roles, most notably Diamond Fairy in The Sleeping Beauty & Sugar Plum Fairy in The Nutcracker.

Randy Pacheco - CONSERVATORY PROGRAM TEACHER

Frequently Asked Questions:

1. Why take the ballet conservatory classes? 

The Diamond Conservatory of Ballet is designed for serious, professionally-minded ballet students who are currently at an intermediate or advanced level and want to achieve their highest level of ability in ballet.

 2. Is there an absence policy for conservatory?

No, there is no absence policy, however dancers that attend class regularly will see an increase in technical skill. Consistency is key. We encourage dancers to make up classes they miss, to continue consistency in their training.

3. If my dancer is on competition team, can conservatory ballet classes take the place of team ballet classes?

The answer is yes, however if a dancer takes conservatory class in place of team ballet requirements then the team absence rule for team would apply.

4. Will my dancer participate in the Spring Variations show?

Yes, all dancers are invited to participate in the ballet showcase in some capacity.

Performance Opportunities for Conservatory Dancers

The Nutcracker “The Land of Snow and Sweets” 2025

Auditions will take place on August 16th, 2025 at the Diamond Dance Works studios. The audition fee of $25 for all dancers.

Dancers must be currently training in ballet in order to audition for this ballet production.

1:30-2:30pm Ages 5-8

2:30-3:30 Ages 9-12

3:30-4:30 Ages 13 and up

Female dancers should wear a black leotard, pink tights, and pink ballet shoes or pointe shoes. Gentlemen should wear black tights or athletic pants, a fitted black or white shirt, and black ballet shoes.

Casting will be announced at a later date following the audition. The Nutcracker tentative date is scheduled for November 22nd, 2025 Details TBA.

Diamond Conservatory of Ballet “Spring Variations Showing” 2025

Students will perform select variations from the classical ballet repertoire, rehearsed beginning in January of 2025.

The Spring Variations Showing is tentatively scheduled for April 26th, 2025 at 2pm at Cactus Shadows Fine Arts Center. Dancers must check-in backstage at 11:45 am. Dancers will take warm-up class followed by stage spacing.

Dress rehearsal is tentatively scheduled for April 25th, 2025 and will be held at the studio. Dancers must check-in at 4pm. Makeup is not required for dress rehearsal. Dancers will take warm-up class and then change into their costumes. Dress rehearsal is scheduled to end tentatively at 6:45pm. Please be on the lookout for information about the finalized end time.

Tickets for the performance can be purchased here beginning April 1st at 10:00AM. There is no limit to the number of people you can invite to attend.

All Conservatory students will participate in the spring showcase, however some groups will perform ballet solos and some a group dance. Soloists will work with Ms. Michelle and other conservatory faculty to select an appropriate variation version to learn and must learn as much of the variation as they can on their own prior to their first rehearsal. Dancers will receive coaching sessions and have open studio time available to work independently. They may also schedule as many additional private lessons as they would like.

Tentative 2026 Showcase April 25, 2026

SUMMER BALLET TRAINING 2025

Ballet is a discipline which requires training year-round in order to remain in optimal condition. We are pleased to offer the following summer training schedules:

June Drop-in Maintenance Classes

Drop-in technique classes are offered Tuesdays and Thursdays throughout June from 2:30-4:00pm for $20 per class. Class may be taken on pointe for those qualified. Dancers should follow standard ballet dress code, but may wear any color leotard.

Drop-in classes are open to any student in the Diamond Conservatory of Ballet as well as students currently on the Junior, Teen, or Diamond competition teams, and students who have completed at least one year of Junior or Senior ballet level 2 or higher. These classes are geared toward our more advanced ballet students and thus are not suitable for Petite age groups or those with minimal or beginner level ballet training.

Payment is required at time of registration and is non-refundable. Six dancers must be pre-registered for class or class will be cancelled and dancers notified the morning of by email. Please pre-register in your parent portal, to let us know you will be attending.

July Ballet Intensive

The July Ballet Intensive is geared toward those students seriously studying ballet. Older/more advanced students will find themselves in classes all day with master teachers studying technique, pointe/pre-pointe, variations, conditioning, etc. Younger/lower level students will have a half-day schedule.

Two weeks of classes are offered and recommended, or you may opt for a single week session. Dancers approved to begin pointe work MUST attend at least the first week of the intensive.

Enrollment is open to any conservatory student, the competition team as required, and students in any ballet level 3 class. Dancers in Junior or Senior levels 2 may contact the studio for approval to enroll.

Week 1: June 30th - July 3rd 9:00am-2:30pm $300 (Half day $175 9:00am-11:30am)

Week 2: July 7th-10th 9:00am-2:30pm $300 (Half day $175 9:00am-11:30am)

Cost: To enroll in the conservatory program there is a $35 registration fee. Program tuition listed above based on level.

*Conservatory classes cannot be combined with regular season tuition.

For more information regarding the conservatory program or to request an audition please submit form below.