Christina Daly
Chief Executive Officer
Founding Owner & Artistic Director
An Albuquerque native, Christina Daly began her training with Ballet Repertory Theatre before transitioning to the prestigious Virignia School of the Arts. Daly trained with VSA intensively on scholarship for two years, as well as with the schools at Kansas City Ballet and Ballet Pacifica. Upon her acceptance to SUNY Purchase College Conservatory of Dance, she graduated high school early to earn her BFA in Dance Performance. Accomplishments during her college career include: earning a Minor Degree in Asian Studies, training at Taipei National University of the Arts, premiering her first choreographic work in representation of SUNY Purchase at New York, NY's world renowned Dance Theatre Workshop, performing two featured roles for an original Dianne McIntyre work and graduating summa cum laude.
Following college, Daly launched her dance company, Sparrow Dance Productions, doing numerous productions througout New York. Since returning to New Mexico, Sparrow Dance Productions has performed at numerous locations throughout Rio Rancho, Santa Fe and the greater Albuquerque area. In the meantime, Daly has performed as a Senior Company member with Ballet Repertory Theatre and Festival Ballet Albuqeurque. Professional performance credits include dancing with BRT, as Carmen in Alex Ossadnik's ballet, Carmen, as well as the Sea Witch in The Little Mermaid, to name the highlights. Daly eagerly anticipates her tenth year with Rio Rancho Middle School and especially this upcoming season at her beloved Sparrow Dance Productions with her husband, James Smith, at her side.
James D. Smith
Director of Operations
James D. Smith is an Albuquerque native who has grown up with a sense of "New Mexico pride". He has a heart for community outreach, the arts, and local businesses. Smith is known both for his avid support for the local arts and his passion for the students, staff and company dancers at Sparrow Dance Productions.
Furthermore, Smith recently served as District 2 Arts Commissioner for the City of Rio Rancho before moving out of that particular District. This opportunity allowed for Smith to learn the intricacies of city arts collaboration, city arts support and city arts funding, as well as inspire his creativity as Sparrow Dance Productions' Director of Operations. Smith's passion, love and commitment to the City of Rio Rancho, Sparrow Dance Productions and his family are both undeniable and irreplaceable. He looks forward to all that Sparrow will continue to grow in to.
Jennifer Leach
Administrative Assistant, Assistant Artistic Director, Conservatory Cadets Ballet Mistress
Jennifer Leach has been dancing as long as she can remember. While dancing with the company at Ballet Repertory Theatre of New Mexico, Leach has had the opportunity to perform in The Nutcracker, Beauty and the Beast, Sleeping Beauty, and Swan Lake to name a few. In addition to earning her BS in Community Health Education from the University of New Mexico, she committed time to earning her Minor Degree in Dance. Teaching ballet over the past eight years has helped her to harness what it is to be a skilled and intuitive instructor. As a new mom, she is excited to bring her ballet experiences to her growing family and to the community of Rio Rancho as a member of the Sparrow staff.