GOODYEAR, Ariz. (September 9, 2024) – Ballet Arizona’s annual Ballet Under the Stars performance returns to the West Valley’s picturesque Estrella Lakeside Amphitheater, 10300 Estrella Parkway, on Sept. 21.
The performance begins at 7 p.m. and is free of charge, with free parking clearly marked nearby. Guests may bring chairs, blankets and picnics as they experience the beauty of dance. Ballet Arizona and Estrella invite all to delight in a spectacular evening showcasing excerpts from a range of ballets, offering a vibrant portrayal of the art form’s diversity.
Ballet Under the Stars is the perfect show for the entire family and a great way to introduce ballet to young people for the first time. This year’s performances will include excerpts from both contemporary and classic ballets. Audiences will experience the tango-inspired Piazzolla Caldera by celebrated choreographer Paul Taylor, a striking duet from Christopher Wheeldon’s Within the Golden Hour, as well as an excerpt from Ib Andersen’s Swan Lake – which will grace Ballet Arizona’s stage in full later this fall.
Ballet Under the Stars also showcases performances by local school students through the Class Act program, provided to students tuition-free. Each year, Ballet Arizona’s professional dancers and teaching artists provide a three-week dance training class for students in four different elementary schools across the Valley. Students from Estrella Mountain Elementary School will take the stage as part of the pre-performance activities at 5 p.m.
“We are thrilled to open the 2024-2025 season with an extraordinary program like Ballet Under the Stars,” said Artistic Director, Daniela Cardim. “This is a wonderful opportunity for Arizonans to discover the magic of ballet under the open sky together with their loved ones – right in their own neighborhood. Ballet Under the Stars is a favorite for thousands of Arizonans each year, and I am very much looking forward to experiencing it for the first time myself in my new community.”
To learn more information about this year’s Ballet Under the Stars performances, please visit balletaz.org.
###
About Estrella
Home to more than 8,200 families, Estrella is a 20,000-acre mixed-use master-planned community located in the City of Goodyear, approximately 17 miles west of Phoenix. Estrella’s 500-plus acres of open space include more than 50 parks and 65 miles of paths and trails, plus 72 acres of lakes for kayaking, sailing, and catch-and-release fishing. Amenities include Starpointe and Presidio Residents’ Clubs, the Yacht Club of Estrella, two fitness centers, resort-style swimming pools, basketball, volleyball, pickleball, and tennis courts. Estrella is also home to a Nicklaus-design Championship golf course, The Golf Club of Estrella. Estrella is owned in a joint venture among Värde Partners, Toll Brothers, and Harvard Investments. For more information about Estrella, please visit estrella.com.
About Ballet Arizona
Since 1986, Ballet Arizona has been dedicated to preserving and celebrating classical dance while creating new and innovative works. Under the new artistic direction of internationally acclaimed choreographer Daniela Cardim – a former soloist with the Ballet of Municipal Theatre of Rio de Janeiro and Dutch National Ballet – Ballet Arizona is excited to follow her lead to the future of dance in Arizona. During its 38th season, the Valley’s professional ballet company will present Swan Lake, The Nutcracker, the U.S. premiere of Frida, Spring Mix, All Balanchine and Eroica. The School of Ballet Arizona, under the direction of Maria Simonetti, promotes access to the art form of ballet through dance education, with a focus on excellence in the form, directing each student to a life-long love of dance. Following this vision, Ballet Arizona connects to more than 22,000 children and families every year through its free and low-cost outreach programs. For more information, visit balletaz.org.