Meet Margaret Mullin | Artistic Director of Ballet Tucson

We had the good fortune of connecting with Margaret Mullin and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Margaret, any advice for those thinking about whether to keep going or to give up?
From Artistic Director Margaret Mullin:

For me, this question comes down to passion and belief in what you do. This is true for our organization, Ballet Tucson, as well. During the Covid Pandemic, our entire industry essentially shut down. Our theaters closed and we lost our ability to connect with our audience almost completely. Though we explored the digital world, that space was not able to capture the heart of what we do; Bring people together to experience live art.

I believe that the performing arts are very unifying and uplifting. There is something tremendously special about coming together to watch real people create a new world right before your very eyes, and knowing that you are collectively sharing a singular experience. Our dancers spark our belief in the extraordinary; inspiring hope, imagination and resilience. We need these things in our lives more than ever as we face an ever-challenging world.

It was incredibly difficult to return to the stage after over a year’s absence, and we are still working to recover from the negative financial impact our organization experienced from the shutdowns, but the fight is well worth it. I see the importance of what we do in the faces of our patrons at every performance. They walk out of the theater energized, invigorated and with what feels like a renewed sense of self. Their passion and belief in our company inspires us to continue our work to bring the best of ballet to our community, no matter what.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I grew up in Tucson and fell in love with ballet at the age of four. It was love at first sight and I have spent every day of my life since the first performance I saw at the Linda Ronstadt Music Hall dedicated to the art form. My path to having a career in ballet was not an easy one. Financial struggles, injuries and family upheavals permeated my young life and there were many times I thought my dream of being a dancer was just that, a dream. My love for ballet was my north star through the challenges and through the example of my resourceful and resilient single mother, I learned that through hard work and grit I could make my way to my goal. I became a professional dancer and was fortunate to have a near 15-year career as a leading dancer with one of the nation’s most prestigious ballet companies, Pacific Northwest Ballet in Seattle.

It has always been important to me to make sure the next generations of Tucsonans would get to experience the inspiring power of this beautiful art form, so I became determined to work to secure the future of dance in our community. Tucson deserves great art! When the opportunity to take the helm of the professional company and school that I grew up with presented itself I leapt at the chance. Ballet Tucson is a true gem of our city. We have extraordinary artists in our ranks and now it is my great pleasure to curate programming that allows them to shine and exposes our patrons to exceptional works of art. We also have an amazing school that is comprised of skilled instructors who share a passion for providing students of all ages with the highest caliber of training while nurturing a deep love of dance and a greater means of self-expression. What makes us special is that we are able to bring the best of the world of dance right here to Tucson!

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Tucson is such an exciting and vibrant city, it’s hard to pick my favorite places. For any visiting friend, I always recommend a few key spots. Brunch at the Cup Cafe at Hotel Congress and the Blue Willow are a must for their great food and unique atmospheres. I love sharing our wonderful art scene so Degrazia Gallery in the Sun, the Tucson Museum of Art and Old Town Artisans are must-sees! Other restaurants I love for lunch and dinner are El Charro, LaCo, Time Market, The Hub, Tito and Pep, Reilly Craft Pizza and Penca. I also enjoy sharing a show with people so I recommend seeing Tucson Symphony Orchestra or the Rogue Theatre perform or visiting the iconic Loft Theater.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I have been very fortunate to receive support from many incredible people throughout my career, but I want to recognize one very special individual who I recently lost: Nancy Causbie. Nancy was an extraordinary person and was my constant cheerleader. Her kindness was unparalleled and her passion was contagious. Nancy is one of the founders of the company I now lead, Ballet Tucson, and her dedication to ensuring our city could experience the beauty of dance was unwavering for over forty years. She stood by me through thick and thin, and I learned so much from her. I carry her in my heart and am proud to work to uphold her legacy.

Website: ballettucson.org

Instagram: @ballettucson

Facebook: Ballet Tucson

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCa4CbTCPvF2jFOR72s0AUqQ

Image Credits
Keno Snyder, Ed Flores, Liang Fu