Arts Council to honor Amy Arnaz

Amy Arnaz holds a ballet shoe that was decorated for an auction in 2004. Arnaz will receive the Alice Isenberg Advocacy Award in a 6 p.m. ceremony tonight at the Boulder Dam Hotel. View file photo Advertisement

Amy Arnaz will be given the Alice Isenberg Advocacy Award, presented by the Boulder City Arts Council, at 6 p.m. tonight at the Boulder Dam Hotel.

"I'm thrilled to receive an award with (Isenberg's) name on it," Arnaz said. "I was surprised they selected me to receive the award. Alice was very active in promoting arts in Boulder City."

Isenberg became the president of the Boulder City Arts Council not long after the group was formed.

"She was president for many, many years," said Darrell McGarvey, past president of the Boulder City Arts Council. "She was the ultimate. If we could get people like Alice Isenberg to receive this award it would be perfect. That's what we're trying to do, emulate her."

Although modest, Arnaz also is very active in keeping the arts alive in Boulder City. She runs the Boulder City Ballet Company and said "it's my No. 1 love."

The company of all girls ages 8 to 18 performs "The Nutcracker" every December, put on "Swan Lake" last spring and is preparing "Sleeping Beauty" to open in May at the Boulder Theatre. Arnaz owns the nonprofit theater with her husband, Desi Arnaz, Jr.

"Amy has been in performing arts for many years," McGarvey said. "(The BCAG) picks people that are visible and outstanding in the arts."

Arnaz also owned and operated Dance Etc. for 27 years before selling the school last year. The dance center engages about 500 students in the performing arts every year.

"My contribution hasn't been drawing or painting, it's mainly music," Arnaz said. "But Alice loved music and ballet as well."

Arnaz said she began dancing as a child.

"My mother signed me up for ballet at 7 because I was clumsy. And I've danced my entire life," she said.

After her initial lessons as a child in Las Vegas, Arnaz studied at the Joffrey School in New York, danced with the San Diego Ballet Company and the Nevada Dance Theater and taught ballet at UNLV.