A double bill of Scheherazade and The Firebird kicks off State Street Ballet’s 30th anniversary. (Provided photo)
Scheherazade, premiered by State Street Ballet in 2014, and The Firebird, premiered in 2013, return to Teatro Granada to open State Street Ballet’s 2024/25 season as it celebrates its 30th anniversary.2 There will be two performances.
The ballet will be accompanied by the Santa Barbara Symphony Orchestra.
The two timeless stories transport audiences to mystical realms inhabited by brave female protagonists, the ballet company said.
Scheherazade, a ballet with choreography by Autumn Eckman and music by Nicolai
Rimsky-Korsakov was first conceived by State Street Ballet Managing Director Tim Mikel, who wrote the libretto.
The performer is Saori Yamashita, who plays the role of the siren queen. role of Ryan Lenkey
Harold Mendez as Hamid, the traveler. Amara Galloway as Fatima.
“The Firebird” features choreography by William Thoreau and music by Igor Stravinsky.
The company’s cast of international artists is joined in the lead role by former New York City Ballet guest artist Rachel Hassell.
This ballet tells the story of the magical Firebird and the demon Kashchei, who captures maidens and turns men to stone when they enter his domain.
The story centers on a prince, played by Ethan Afuelo, who chases a firebird into a demon’s garden and falls in love with a captive maiden.
In this fable of good and evil, a prince is captured and rescued by an ogre monster.
The Firebird helps destroy the Ogre’s soul and free the captives.
Performances are Saturday, October 26th at 7:30pm and Sunday, October 27th at 2pm. For tickets please visit granadasb.org.
For more information about State Street Ballet, visit statestreetballet.com.