Staff Reports | Happenings & Events
Ballet Arizona’s annual Ballet Under the Stars, presented by the Diane and Bruce Halle Foundation, will return from Sept. 24 through Oct. 3 with free performances at six locations across the Valley.
The family-friendly series brings professional ballet performances to outdoor community spaces, providing audiences with an opportunity to experience ballet in an accessible setting.
This year’s program will feature excerpts from both classical and contemporary works, including Romeo & Juliet, Concerto Six Twenty-Two (first movement) and Don Quixote.
Since its launch in 1997, Ballet Under the Stars has become a longtime Valley tradition, attracting more than 9,000 attendees each year. Guests are encouraged to bring chairs, blankets and picnics to enjoy performances presented in local parks throughout Maricopa County, according to a press release.
Each event includes a professional stage, lighting and costumes, as well as local food trucks and space for families to gather and enjoy the performances.
“Ballet Under the Stars is a long-standing tradition and a special way we begin our season at Ballet Arizona,” Artistic Director Daniela Cardim said. “It’s an opportunity for people of all ages to experience live ballet in a relaxed, welcoming outdoor setting. There’s something extraordinary about seeing this art form under the stars, surrounded by your community. We’re proud to continue this tradition and invite audiences across the Valley to join us for these free performances.”
The series also features world premiere works choreographed by local elementary school students through Ballet Arizona’s Class Act program. Each year, Ballet Arizona teaching artists lead a three-week dance training program at six schools across the Valley, guiding students through the creative and rehearsal process.
The program concludes with student performances as part of Ballet Under the Stars. The tuition-free educational initiative is supported by Joan Benjamin and Laurence Cherkis.
Performance locations and schedules will be announced by Ballet Arizona.
