Phoenix Youth Symphony Orchestras And The School Of Ballet Arizona Partner To Perform 'Swan Lake'

By Amanda Day
Published: Sunday, April 11, 2021 - 9:10am
Updated: Monday, April 12, 2021 - 8:05am

Audio icon Download mp3 (1.12 MB)

Swan Lake Rehearsals
Alberto Penalver
Swan Lake Rehearsals on February 25, 2021.

The School of Ballet Arizona and the Phoenix Youth Symphony Orchestras have partnered up to put on performances of "Swan Lake."

For many students with the arts groups, this may be their first time performing live together, dancing to live music or playing a full ballet.

Matthew Kasper with Phoenix Youth Symphony Orchestras said he has been talking to the musicians about how timing may change when performing with the dancers.

For example, sometimes the musicians may play faster or slower. Other times the dancers may be faster or slower.

"They're going to become more sensitive to what is needed on stage versus it just being about us as an orchestra," Kasper said.

Maria Simonetti with the School of Ballet Arizona said the dancers usually perform to recorded music and will adjust to a live orchestra.

"It is challenging because they have to listen more," she said. "When you rehearse to tape the tempo is always the same so you kind of go on autopilot. Now it's going to fluctuate."

The shows are scheduled for May 30-31 and June 6 outside at the Desert Botanical Garden.

Education Arts + Entertainment