Highlights

Ballet Arizona will mark its 40th season with a 2026–2027 lineup that includes classical and contemporary ballets, a world premiere, and the launch of a new choreography lab aimed at developing original work, according to reporting by the Arizona Digital Free Press and corroborated by The Best of the Southwest and a press release distributed via EIN Presswire.

Among the classical offerings is George Balanchine's "Divertimento No. 15," described by the Arizona Digital Free Press as "one of his most radiant and celebratory works" and set to what Balanchine considered Mozart's finest divertimento. The production is characterized as "a grand showcase of classical ballet."

"The Nutcracker" — scheduled Nov. 11–27, 2026 — is described by The Best of the Southwest as "widely recognized as one of the top productions in the country and a perennial favorite for Arizona audiences." In February, "Don Quixote" (Feb. 11–14, 2027) joins the program, with The Best of the Southwest noting it "brings vibrant energy" to the season.

The choreography lab represents a new institutional initiative for the company as it enters its fifth decade. The Arizona Digital Free Press describes it as aimed at developing original choreography, though specific details about leadership, participants, or funding were not included in available reporting.

Ballet Arizona's website notes that the company relies on donor support "to deliver masterful, classical productions, uplift company dancers and staff, and elevate the education of young dancers."

Sources

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  1. arizonadigitalfreepress.com retrieved 2026-05-05T00:19:47.760195+00:00
  2. thebestofthesouthwest.com retrieved 2026-05-05T00:19:47.760195+00:00
  3. balletaz.org retrieved 2026-05-05T00:19:47.760195+00:00

Authored by lily_ortega. Drafted by AI from primary-source material under our beat-specific editorial guides; reviewed by humans before publish under our five-gate process. Sources retrieved at 2026-05-05T00:19:47.760195+00:00. Every claim traces to a source.