Madeleine Kuebler: Principal dancer (Photo by Carlos Chavez)
Featuring Audience Favorites, Local Collaborations and New Works by Renowned Choreographers
TUCSON, AZ (May 2, 2025) – Ballet Tucson Artistic Director Margaret Mullin has announced the performance line-up for the company’s new season, which runs from September 2025 through April 2026. The Tucson community will Be Moved by a season that promises a captivating range of premieres and cherished classics, showcasing a blend of gripping drama, vibrant vignettes, desert-inspired visions, and refined masterpieces.
Season highlights include exciting new works like the world premiere of Desert Dweller by Artistic Director Margaret Mullin in collaboration with Tohono Chul Gardens, celebrated guitarist Misael Barraza-Diaz, and the Tucson Guitar Society, a stunning ballet by famed choreographer Matthew Neenan titled Bacchus, the breathtaking classical masterpiece La Source by the father of American ballet George Balanchine, and revered choreographer Ron Cunningham’s Bolero. Patrons will also enjoy the return of audience favorites including Associate Artistic Director and Resident Choreographer Chieko Imada's Himiko, featuring music by Duo Chinoiserie and Erika Burkhart in partnership with the Tucson Desert Song Festival and Tucson Guitar Society, the treasured holiday classic The Nutcracker in partnership with the Tucson Symphony Orchestra, and The Phantom of the Opera, Chieko Imada's theatrical ballet inspired by the 1920s silent film.
Ballet Tucson is now taking orders for new and renewing season subscriptions. Single ticket sales for individual performances, including The Nutcracker in partnership with the Tucson Symphony Orchestra, begin August 1, 2025. invites supporters to subscribe to their e-newsletter to be the first to receive special announcements including additions to their events calendar: https://ballettucson.org/stay-connected/
About Ballet Tucson’s 2025/2026 Season Performances
Steps Forward
September 12, 2025
One night only: Friday at 7:00pm
The Temple of Music and Art
Loved by both artists and audiences alike, Steps Forward is a choreographers’ showcase that features a batch of all new works, created by current Ballet Tucson company members for their fellow dancers. At the end of this one-night-only collection of premieres, audience members have the opportunity to vote for their favorite, which will receive an encore presentation on the Ballet Tucson mainstage later in the season! This program offers vital career development and transition support for our dancers, allowing them to explore their creativity and their artistic potential as a choreographer. After the show you will hear from the choreographers themselves in a special Q&A moderated by Artistic Director Margaret Mullin.
Season Subscriptions on sale now.
Single and Group Tickets on sale August 1, 2025.
Magic in the Moonlight
October 31 - November 2, 2025
Friday at 7:00pm, Saturday at 2:00pm and 7:00pm, Sunday at 2:00pm
The Temple of Music and Art
Our season opener promises to dazzle with a powerful array of dynamics, drama, and theatrics. The striking beauty of Paul Gibson’s Piano Dance enchanted audiences in our 2024 Spring Concert and the Ballet Tucson premiere of his Sense of Doubt promises to thrill with a powerful display of vigor and athleticism. This program will also see the return of Resident Choreographer Chieko Imada’s Phantom of the Opera, inspired by both the 1910 Leroux novel and the 1925 silent film. This well-known tale of murder and mayhem not only includes the signature falling chandelier and haunting boat ride, but also features students of The School of Ballet Tucson in a classroom scene straight out of one of Edgar Degas’ famous ballerina paintings. The evening is rounded out by two classic works — Clair de Lune Pas de Deux, choreographed by Artistic Director Margaret Mullin in 2024 in collaboration with the Tucson Pops Orchestra, and the virtuoso Black Swan Pas de Deux from the ever-timeless ballet Swan Lake, where the ballerina’s extraordinary feat of thirty-two fouettés promises to amaze.
Season Subscriptions on sale now.
Single and Group Tickets on sale August 1, 2025.
The NUTCRACKER
In partnership with Tucson Symphony Orchestra
December 19 - 21, 2025
Friday at 7:00pm, Saturday at 1:00pm and 6:00pm, and
Sunday at 1:00pm and 6:00pm
Linda Ronstadt Music Hall
This beloved holiday classic is all Tucson, bringing together Tucson’s only professional ballet company with Tucson’s very own orchestra! As we follow Clara on her magical journey to the Land of the Sweets, Ballet Tucson’s production of The Nutcracker is brought to life in partnership with the Tucson Symphony Orchestra, and has become a treasured local tradition to celebrate the season.
Season Subscriptions on sale now.
Single and Group Tickets on sale August 1, 2025.
Desert Voices
February 27 - March 1, 2026
Friday at 7:00pm, Saturday at 2:00pm and 7:00pm, Sunday at 2:00pm
The Temple of Music and Art
Ballet Tucson continues their longtime partnership with the Tucson Desert Song Festival and Tucson Guitar Society with the highly anticipated return of Chieko Imada’s Himiko. This audience favorite work offers a beautiful blend of ballet and traditional Japanese dance as a tribute to the human spirit, honor, and resilience, featuring live music performed by celebrated ensemble Duo Chinoiserie. Tucson audiences have marveled at Kiyon Ross’ dynamic contributions to our rapidly expanding repertoire and Un-A’frayed Edges, a “colorful and fantastical” work that plays with speed, angles, and formations will be his fifth contribution to Ballet Tucson. Finally, the program will include a world premiere by Tucson native Margaret Mullin, Desert Dweller, created in collaboration with Tohono Chul Gardens. Filled with vivid projections of striking botanicals captured by photographer Carlos Chavez and set to the music of renowned guitarist Misael Barraza-Diaz, this work will serve as a celebration of the natural beauty of this region we all call home.
Season Subscriptions on sale now.
Single and Group Tickets on sale August 1, 2025.
Ballet in Bloom
April 17-19, 2026
Friday at 7:00pm, Saturday at 2:00pm and 7:00pm, Sunday at 2:00pm
Proscenium Theatre, Pima Community College Center for the Arts
The final program of the season is a bouquet of sumptuous sophistication, playful choreography, and flair. Legendary choreographer George Balanchine’s La Source, once described as “pink champagne,” features both brilliant ensemble work and virtuosic pas de deux. Premiering at the Pacific Northwest Ballet in 2019, Bacchus is Ballet Tucson’s first work by famed choreographer Matthew Neenan, who the New York Times has called, “one of America’s best dance poets.” Set to the spirited music of Oliver Davis, Bacchus is a lively romp that exemplifies the Roman god of wine himself. Rounding out the program, we celebrate the legacy of American choreographer Ron Cunningham with the Ballet Tucson premiere of his critically acclaimed Bolero. Intriguing, provocative and bold, this striking ballet set to Maurice Ravel’s classic score has long been a Sacramento Ballet audience favorite and promises to offer a thrilling conclusion to our 2025/2026 Season.
Season Subscriptions on sale now.
Single and Group Tickets on sale August 1, 2025.
SUBSCRIPTION & TICKET INFORMATION
Ballet Tucson is now taking orders for new and renewing season subscriptions. A Classic Subscription includes all five season performances, including The Nutcracker, at the rate of $260, and a Mixed Rep Subscription includes four performances (minus The Nutcracker) at the rate of $188. Both Season Subscription options include special discounts, concierge service and other exclusive benefits: https://ballettucson.org/season-subscription/
Single and group tickets for all Ballet Tucson performances, including The Nutcracker in partnership with the Tucson Symphony Orchestra begin August 1, 2025. Tickets for The Nutcracker in partnership with the Tucson Symphony Orchestra can only be purchased from the Tucson Convention Center in-person at their box office or online via Ticketmaster. Tickets to all other Ballet Tucson performances (Steps Forward, Magic in the Moonlight, Desert Voices and Ballet in Bloom) can be purchased from Ballet Tucson online via their website or by calling 520.903.1445 starting August 1, 2025. All programming is subject to change. For further information, please visit ballettucson.org.