Ballet Arizona's Topia at Desert Botanical Garden Back for a Second Season

By Lauren Saria Mon., Mar. 4 2013 at 9:00 AM

Categories: Dance, Events

Flickr, C. G. P. Grey

The Desert Botanical Garden

There aren't many places where you can catch a ballet under the stars, let alone in one of the world's only places created for the study and display of the beauty of the Sonoran Desert. But last year, Ballet Arizona and the Desert Botanical Garden teamed up for the world premiere of Topia, an original production by Ballet Arizona artistic director Ib Andersen. With beautiful music, choreography, and the unique backdrop of the Papago Buttes, the performances were a genuine gift to audience members.

Those who missed out on breathtaking experience of nature and art will be happy to know what the company's gearing up for a second go-round. And trust us, you don't want to miss this again.

Set to the music of Beethoven, the ballet is performed on a custom-built stage that's 80 feet long. As if that wasn't unique enough, the panoramic stage is artfully placed against the dramatic backdrop of the Papago Buttes at Desert Botanical Garden -- it's designed to give a one-of-a-kind perspective of both the garden and the ballet.

Andersen has said that the music is meant to push back against the overwhelming combination of nature and dance. And the 45-minute ballet is all about big. From the stage to the music to the starry night sky, it's all about taking it in.