Best Of Tucson®

Best Dance Performance

Aspen Santa Fe Ballet

This vibrant troupe is not from Tucson, but its April 16 stop here was the best dance locals saw all year. Aspen Santa Fe concentrates on guest choreographers who do contemporary and ballet, and that's not an oxymoron. Run by two alumni of the Joffrey Ballet, this dual-city company specializes in European-inspired, cutting-edge work. Their guest choreographers this go-round were Jorma Elo of Finland, and two Americans: William Forsythe and Nicolo Fonte, who work in Germany and Spain, respectively; all of them made breathtaking innovative dances. And the young dancers in the troupe are gorgeous, powerful and beautifully trained. Among the best is Seia Rassenti, a 22-year-old Tucson native. In her first season with the troupe, she completely wowed her adoring hometown as she sailed through the air, her black hair flying.