Sedona, AZ — Set against the breathtaking red rocks of Sedona, the inaugural Sedona Choreography Retreat is an extraordinary convergence of artistic brilliance, innovation, and collaboration. This ten-day retreat brings together world-class talent to create new works that will premiere in an exclusive performance, offering audiences a first look at the future of dance.
At the heart of the retreat is Nayon Iovino, celebrated choreographer and Artistic Director of the retreat. Known for his emotionally resonant and visually stunning work with Ballet Arizona, Iovino is creating a new ballet inspired by the hauntingly beautiful music of Christel Veraart. Veraart, an acclaimed composer, musician, and multimedia artist, provides the sonic and visual landscape through her album Nostalgia and her latest audiovisual creation Santa Fe & Esmeralda – Nostalgia, offering a rich, evocative foundation for Iovino’s new work.
Joining Iovino is the acclaimed LaTasha Barnes, a celebrated dancer, choreographer, and scholar known for bridging Black social dance traditions with contemporary innovation. At the retreat, Barnes will debut Flow State—a groundbreaking interdisciplinary performance that blurs the boundaries between dance, technology, and sound. Translating live movement into real-time digital signals that create immersive, responsive soundscapes, Barnes invites audiences into a fully sensory experience where each gesture leaves a sonic imprint. Merging the soul of Black vernacular dance with cutting-edge media, Barnes offers a bold, new vision of embodied storytelling and redefines how we experience rhythm, energy, and expression.
Throughout the retreat, the public is invited to engage more deeply through a series of Conversation Workshops, Open Rehearsals, and a Masterclass for local students, providing rare, behind-the-scenes access to the creative process. These events offer a unique opportunity to witness the evolution of new works in real time, meet the artists, and explore the dynamic collaboration between choreographers, dancers, and musicians. Students will also benefit from direct mentorship and instruction, inspiring the next generation of dance artists.
The retreat culminates in an electrifying showcase of world premieres:
- Nayon Iovino’s new ballet inspired by Veraart’s richly atmospheric music and visual storytelling
- LaTasha Barnes’ Flow State Project, a dynamic exploration of dance, technology, and cultural roots
In addition to these exciting new works, the final performance will feature celebrated pieces from renowned choreographers:
- Excerpt from Serenade by George Balanchine
With permission from The George Balanchine Trust, audiences will experience Sonatina—an excerpt from Balanchine’s landmark Serenade. Set to Tchaikovsky’s lush score, this piece captures the timeless grace, sweeping musicality, and emotional resonance that defined Balanchine’s revolutionary vision. - Take Me With You by Robert Bondara
A powerful pas de deux set to Radiohead’s haunting Reckoner, Bondara’s acclaimed duet blends lyrical intimacy with physical intensity, exploring connection and longing with raw, magnetic energy. - Vastwave by Natasha Adorlee
Emmy Award-winning choreographer Natasha Adorlee presents Vastwave, a kinetic new work created in collaboration with Ballet Arizona’s Studio Company dancers, fusing original sound design with contemporary movement in a powerful meditation on motion and energy.
The Sedona Choreography Retreat represents a bold new chapter in dance innovation—blending classical excellence, contemporary vision, multicultural roots, and cutting-edge technology in one of the most inspiring natural settings in America.
This is a rare opportunity to witness the birth of groundbreaking new works, engage directly with world-class artists, and experience the creative forces shaping the future of dance.
