Ballet Arizona Announces Its 2022-2023 Season, To Include 'Giselle'

PHOENIX, AZ — Ballet Arizona has announced its upcoming 2022-2023 season, which will include classics like "Giselle" and holiday favorite, "The Nutcracker" along with more contemporary shows.

Ballet Arizona's 37th season is set to begin with "Contemporary Moves" on Sept. 22-25 at the Orpheum Theater.

"Contemporary Moves celebrates masterful and diverse choreography, music, and tone with works from both emerging and celebrated choreographers," Ballet Arizona said in a news release.

The show will include three short ballets that are meant to be viewed like a collection of short stories.

Then, on Oct. 20-23 the company will perform "Cinderella" at Symphony Hall with musical accompaniment from the Phoenix Symphony and choreography by Ballet Arizona's Ib Andersen.

The beloved storybook tale will include glass slippers, a fairy godmother and the classic happily ever after moment.

As always, the company will perform "The Nutcracker" in celebration of the winter holiday season from Dec. 9-24 at Symphony Hall with live music from The Phoenix Symphony and choreography from Andersen.

"Whether this is your first Nutcracker or your 101st, this heartwarming tradition never fails to enchant and draw smiles from all," the ballet said.

The New York Times has previously named Ballet Arizona's performance of "The Nutcracker" as “among the top three in the country."

For fans of love, tragedy and dance, on Feb. 9-12, 2023, Ballet Arizona will perform "Giselle" at the The Madison Center for the Arts. "Giselle" tells the tragic romantic story of a woman who dies of a broken heart. It is famous for the ghostly women, called wilis, who take revenge on the man who betrayed her.

"Achingly beautiful, Giselle is an enrapturing work of art that draws audiences in with themes of enduring love, tragedy, and romance," according to Ballet Arizona.

On May 4-7, the company will perform its "All Balanchine" show with works from the world-celebrated choreographer, George Balanchine, staged by Andersen.

Andersen is one of only a handful of artists around the world authorized by the The Balanchine Trust to stage the deceased choreographer’s work. The show will be accompanied by music from The Phoenix Symphony and is set to take place at Symphony Hall.

The Balanchine show will include "Raymonda Variations" in which the dancers will show off precise technique and end with several solos and "Emeralds," which according to the ballet, "evokes the elegance and romanticism of 19th century ballet."

The show will also include Balachine's "The Four Temperaments," an experimental ballet that portrays the four personality types of melancholic, sanguinic, phlegmatic and choleric, harkening back to medieval times.

"The Four Temperaments introduced new possibilities for ballet that continue to challenge dancers and audiences equally," Ballet Arizona said.

Ballet Arizona will end its 2022-23 season with "An Evening At Desert Botanical Garden, nightly Tuesday through Saturday May 16-June 3, 2023.

Ballet Arizona tells viewers to expect the unexpected during a contemporary ballet choreographed by Andersen, and performed in a desert landscape with the backdrop of a setting sun.

Tickets are on sale now for the remaining works in the company's 2021-22 season, including "Juan Gabriel," May 5-8 at Symphony Hall and this year's "An Evening at Desert Botanical Garden," May 17-June 2.