Behind the Scenes: Ballet Arizona's Topia at Desert Botanical Garden

Ballet Arizona's Topia takes Ib Andersen's choreography, sets it to Beethoven's Symphony No. 6, and places it on an 80-foot-long stage at Desert Botanical Garden with the Papago Buttes as a backdrop. As reviewer Katrina Montgomery stated, the combination makes for the most sensory ballet experience we've ever had. For...

By Becky Bartkowski

May 28, 2013

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Ballet Arizona's Topia takes Ib Andersen's choreography, sets it to Beethoven's Symphony No. 6, and places it on an 80-foot-long stage at Desert Botanical Garden with the Papago Buttes as a backdrop.

As reviewer Katrina Montgomery stated, the combination makes for the most sensory ballet experience we've ever had.

For a closer look at the show, its mesmerizing scenery, and its performers, photographer Andrew Pielage went behind the scenes with the dancers during their warm-up and rehearsal leading up to their Thursday, May 23, performance.

See the full Topia slideshow.

Performances of Topia continue through Saturday, June 1. Tickets are $36 to $55. Visit www.balletaz.org.

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