The Directors
The Artistic Director
Zabie Nields
Zabie Nields came to Yuma in ’03 to be Ballet Mistress for Yuma Ballet Theatre. Since then she has played an integral part in the company as a volunteer, patron, teacher, choreographer, and company member. Zabie received her BA in Dance from Mercyhurst College, where she concentrated in choreography, performance, and pedagogy. Zabie is also certified to teach in the state of Arizona and has taught at Cibola High School for the past seven years. However, her forte is classical ballet.
Ms. Nields received her Vagonava training in New Hampshire and her Balanchine training from Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet, where she was privileged enough to perform several roles in Balenchine’s “Nutcracker” as well as “Seranade”. She also was a company member with Lake Erie Ballet and performed three times with Burklyn Ballet Theatre (BBT) in Edinburgh Scotland’s “Fringe Festival”.
From age 13 to present Zabie has experienced every aspect of BBT’s summer program. She has participated as a student, teacher, choreographer, ballet mistress, and most notably as the director of the intermediate program for the past four years. These experiences have given her a more varied and comprehensive understanding of the dance world. For example, BBT offered opportunities to partake in corp de ballet, soloist, and principal roles in many of the classics: “Swan Lake”, “La Bayadere”, “Don Quixote”, “La Sylphide”, “Graduation Ball”, and “Sleeping Beauty”. Also, while dancing with Lake Erie Ballet, Ms. Nields had the pleasure of working with Wes Chapman in his neo-classical version of “Dracula”.
As a performer Zabie has danced many styles, including tap, jazz, lyrical, modern, pointe, and pas de deux. For example, as a young tap dancer she performed with Granite State Ballet in “An American in Paris”. Zabie then matured to perform at the collegiate level as Destiny in “Carmen”, a stepsister in “Cinderella”, Prayer in “Copellia” and Zulna in “Giselle”. Such artistic endeavors and learning experiences have provided Ms. Nields the necessary skills and attitude to teach the gift of dance to anyone who wishes to learn. She truly looks forward to providing YBT with classical ballet technique, while at the same time leaving room for contemporary works and offering positive educational experiences for all Yumans particularly those who share her passion for dance.
