Ballet Arizona’s Presents “Cacti & Other Works”
A Boundary‑Breaking Ballet Experience that Redefines Movement, Music, and Imagination
Ballet Arizona’s Cacti & Other Works. Photo by Ed Flores. Composite by Angie Slade Design.
Experience Ballet Arizona like never before as the Valley’s professional ballet company presents a vibrant, fast-moving evening of dance with “Cacti & Other Works.” From March 19 – 22 at Orpheum Theatre, Ballet Arizona will transform the stage into an interpretative art experience you have to see to believe. Featuring a spellbinding trio of short works, each with its own voice, energy, and artistic world, this performance will offer a rich experience Arizonans will be sure to remember.
“‘Cacti & Other Works’ is about the extraordinary range of creativity that ballet offers today," said Ballet Arizona’s Artistic Director, Daniela Cardim. "From the visual poetry of 'Apollo' to the elegance and tension in 'Concertante' and the bold humor of 'Cacti,' this program showcases the extraordinary creativity of three master choreographers as well as the versatility of our incredible dancers”
Through Ballet Arizona’s “Cacti & Other Works,” audiences will experience three strikingly different masterpieces:
Apollo
The ballet that launched George Balanchine onto the world stage, Apollo (1928) remains a defining work of neoclassical ballet. Set to Igor Stravinsky’s luminous score, this timeless piece returns to Ballet Arizona with its signature blend of elegance, musicality, and mythic storytelling.
Concertante
A brilliant example of Hans van Manen’s unmistakable style, Concertante blends refined simplicity with tension, structure, and razor‑sharp musicality to explore the complexities of human relationships. Van Manen, celebrated globally as a grand master of contemporary ballet, passed away in December 2025. Ballet Arizona is honored to be the first American company to perform one of his works since his passing, paying tribute to his extraordinary legacy. The work includes music by Frank Martin (Petite Symphonie Concertante).
Cacti
A gleeful, witty parody of dance’s grandest excesses, Cacti is an affectionate and hilariously incisive deconstruction of artistic pretension. Dancers run, fall, writhe, and battle invisible constraints, occasionally accompanied by actual cacti. What does it all mean? That’s part of the fun. Audiences will also enjoy a live on‑stage musical performance by Opus 76 Quartet performing alongside the dancers. Cacti includes music by Franz Joseph Haydn, Ludwig van Beethoven, and Franz Schubert (including Andy Stein’s arrangement of Death and the Maiden).
Join Ballet Arizona for a sneak peek look at “Cacti & Other Works” during Ballet Arizona’s studio spotlight performance on March 6 at 7 p.m. at Ballet Arizona’s Dorrance Theatre. Tickets are $30 and include an in-studio rehearsal with the dancers, a Q&A, and additional details about the production from the artistic team.
Ballet Arizona’s opening night series sponsors are F. Francis and Dionne Najafi of Pivotal Foundation. Additional support for “Cacti & Other Works” is provided by Bob Benson, Beth and Paul Hommert, Dr. Eleanore Jane Rosenthal, Ann and Van Wolf, and Snell & Wilmer.
Tickets for “Cacti & Other Works” range from $36 to $172 and are available now. Discounts are offered for seniors, college students, active military, and groups. For the best tickets and prices, always purchase directly from Ballet Arizona at balletaz.org.
Ballet Arizona
Since 1986, Ballet Arizona has been dedicated to preserving and celebrating classical dance while creating new and innovative works. Under the 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 39th season, the Valley’s professional ballet company will present “The Sleeping Beauty,” “The Nutcracker,” “ALICE (in Wonderland)”, “Cacti & Other Works,” and “An Evening at Desert Botanical Garden.” The School of Ballet Arizona, under the new direction of James Payne, 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.
