Ballet Arizona’s annual Ballet Under the Stars performances, presented by the Diane and Bruce Halle Foundation, are returning to four Valley locations.

Free and open to the public, Ballet Under the Stars is for the entire family and a great way to introduce ballet to young people for the first time.

The series opens Saturday, Sept. 23 at Sahuaro Ranch Historic Park, 9802 N. 59th Ave., in Glendale. Other locations include Fountain Hills (Thursday, Sept. 28), Goodyear (Friday, Sept. 29), and Phoenix (Sundayy. Sept. 30).

Guests can bring chairs, blankets and picnics to experience the beauty of dance in outdoor parks across the Valley. The evening features a fully-staged live performance by the professional company dancers of Ballet Arizona, including Juan Gabriel’s “Se Me Olvidó Otra Vez” and George Balanchine’s “The Four Temperaments.”

“We are thrilled to kick off our 38th season with Ballet Under the Stars,” Artistic Director Ib Andersen shared in a news release. “This beloved annual tradition helps us give back to the Arizona community with a unique outdoor experience allowing friends and families to be immersed in the world of ballet.”

Productions include a professional stage, lighting and costumes. Indulge in local food trucks with space for picnicking.

The performance schedule is:

• Saturday, Sept. 23 at Sahuaro Ranch Historic Park, 9802 N. 59th Ave., Glendale
• Thursday, Sept. 28 at Fountain Park, 12925 N. Saguaro Blvd., Fountain Hills
• Friday, Sept. 29 at Estrella Lakeside Amphitheater, 10300 Estrella Parkway, Goodyear
• Saturday, Sept. 30 at Steele Indian School Park, 300 E. Indian School Road

All performances begin at 7 p.m.

Ballet Under the Stars also showcases premiere performances choreographed by local school students through the Class Act program. Each year, Ballet Arizona’s professional dancers provide a three-week dance training class for students in four different elementary schools across the Valley. The culminating highlight of their work is delivered as a performance as part of Ballet Under the Stars.

This educational program is provided to students tuition free and is funded by Joan Benjamin and Laurence Cherkis.

Ballet Under the Stars would not be possible without community sponsors including The Diane & Bruce Halle Foundation, the city of Phoenix Office of Arts + Culture, town of Fountain Hills, city of Glendale, city of Goodyear, Stoker Ostler, APS, Grand Canyon University, Estrella, Sticker Mule and Desert Diamond Casino.

Visit balletaz.org.

The Ballet Under The Stars series kicks off Sept. 23 in Glendale.

(David Knox/Courtesy of Ballet Arizona)