Photos by Frank X. Moraga / www.AmigosNAZ.com ©2024
Also see: Arizona Daily Sun — Gallery: 16th annual Viola Awards
FLAGSTAFF — Ballet Folklórico de Colores won the “Excellence in the Performing Arts Award” at the 2024 Viola Awards held on March 23, 2024 at the Orpheum Theater. The event was presented by by Creative Flagstaff.
More than a 100 guests celebrated the 42 finalists across 10 categories at the event.
Ballet Folklórico de Colores of Flagstaff was recognized for its “Paseo Navideno: A Christmas Journey Through Mexico” performance held at the Orpheum Theater on Dec. 9, 2023.
Ballet Folklórico De Colores was formed by Sergio Padilla, interested parents and teachers from Puente de Hózhó Bilingual School to teach and perform the folk dances from Mexico, and have appeared yearly at such events as Flagstaff Nuestras Raíces’ Summertime Tardeada and Celebraciones de la Gente, Cinco de Mayo celebrations at Sedona’s Tlaquepaque and other events statewide wide.
Prior to the event, Flagstaff Nuestras Raíces & the Museum of Northern Arizona: 20thAnnual Celebraciones de la Gente were selected as a 2024 Viola Awards Finalists for the Excellence in Collaboration category.
The 20th anniversary annual Celebraciones de la Gente — Día de los Muertos / Day of the Dead festival was held Oct. 21, 22 at the Museum of Northern Arizona.
The event, a partnership between Flagstaff Nuestras Raíces and the Museum of Northern Arizona, featured the return of the the ever-popular InTlanextli Tlacopan Aztec Fire Dancers, Ballet Folklorico de Colores — Flagstaff, El Charro Bohemia, sugar skull and other workshops, and the display of nearly two dozen ofrendas/altars in the historic Jaime Golightly Courtyard.
Nuestras Raíces President Lydia Anaya, Nuestras Raíces Treasurer Becca DeLap and Museum of Northern Arizona Public Program Manager Claudine Taillac were included in a short video presentation prior to the announcement of the category award winner.
2024 Official Viola Award Finalists and Winners
Babbit Brothers Foundation Legacy Award — Klee Benally
Excellence in the Visual Arts
- Paula Rice: Transformation & Transcendence (Winner)
- Nate Begay: Our Future, Told by the Past
- Bryan David Griffith: Envision
- Jihan Gearon: Tricky
Excellence in the Performing Arts
- Ballet Folklórico de Colores: Paseo Navideno: A Christmas Journey Through Mexico (Winner)
- The Cast of Dance Nation
- Stargazer Collaborative Theatre: Women of Broadway Cabaret
- Simon Says Theatre: Every Brilliant Thing
Excellence in Music
- iiwaa (e-wa) (Winner)
- Tiny Bird
- Tow’rs
- Ryan Biter
- Pilcrowe
Excellence in Storytelling
- Melissa Sevingy: Brave the Wild River (Winner)
- Mary Tolan: Mars Hill Murder
- Lawrence Lenhart: Backvalley Ferrets
- Lydia Gates: Flagstaff Poetry Slam Host
Emerging Artist
- Brian Price (Winner)
- Haley Jacobey
- Nathan Henderson
- Jonathan Cady
Excellence in Education
- Joe Maniglia (Winner)
- Betsy Hamill
- Owen Davis
Excellence in Collaboration
- Diane Immethun & FSO: Deeper Soul of Picture Canyon (Winner)
- Master Chorale & NAU Community Dance Academy: Venus & Adonis
- Interference Series
- Maya Scull & Jason Libby: Nightmare Over the Rainbow
- Flagstaff Nuestras Raices & Museum of Northern Arizona: 20th Annual Celebraciones de la Gente
Community Impact (Individual)
- Kimberly Robinson (Winner)
- Emmett White
- Caitlin Burd
- Wendy White
Community Impact (Organization)
- Northern Arizona Book Festival (Winner)
- The Give Back
- Freaky Foot Tours
- Flagstaff Foundry
- Flagstaff Symphony Orchestra
Philanthropy Award
- Arizona Public Service (Winner)
- Dark Sky Brewing
- Alice Christie
- L. Gore
