Oklahoma City, OK, August 21, 2023: On Friday, September 15, Oklahoma City Ballet will present Ballet Under the Stars at 7:00 p.m. at Scissortail Park’s Love’s Travel Stops Stage & Great Lawn in downtown Oklahoma City. This FREE community performance made possible by Express Employment International, Arvest Bank, and the Kirkpatrick Family Fund, requires no ticket or reservation to attend. Featuring excerpts from classical ballet and modern dance, the evening will include short works performed by Oklahoma City Ballet’s professional dancers, OU School of Dance students, and students from the Oklahoma City Ballet Yvonne Chouteau School.


Guests are encouraged to arrive early to Ballet Under the Stars to get a great spot on the lawn and to take part in family-friendly activities starting at 5:30 p.m. From 5:30-6:30 p.m., attendees can watch dancers warm-up on stage, take photos with dancers, win prizes, and partake in a family dance class at 6:30 p.m. for all ages and abilities.

“Oklahoma City Ballet wants to make ballet accessible to our entire community. Ballet Under the Stars breaks down the barriers of cost, worrying what to wear, wondering if children can attend, and shows both the fun and the formal side of ballet,” said Whitney Cross, Director of Development & Communications.

Ballet Under the Stars showcases a variety of dance, and also the range of programs that Oklahoma City Ballet conducts throughout the year. For example, students from the Boys and Girls Clubs of Oklahoma County will demonstrate what they have learned through the Ballet’s free program, Dance Discovery, which takes place in 13 different Boys and Girls Club locations. Oklahoma City Ballet also has an outstanding dance school, the Yvonne Chouteau School, whose students will perform at the event.

Special guests from PARA.MAR Dance Theatre based in Chicago will conclude the evening with kiss., a popular work created by the company’s Artistic Director, Stephanie Martinez. Oklahoma City Ballet’s 25 professional dancers will perform the majority of works featured at Ballet Under the Stars.

“Ballet Under the Stars is the best sampling of dance performance you will see all year. There is a huge amount of variety in music and dance styles, and I guarantee everyone will fall in love with something they see. If you’ve never experienced live ballet, give this a try. You’ll be hooked,” said Oklahoma City Ballet Artistic Director Ryan Jolicoeur-Nye.

Some of the highlights of this year’s Ballet Under the Stars will include contemporary works from several choreographers, a sneak peak of February’s production of Giselle and May’s Carmina Burana, classical ballet excerpts, and performances by students of all levels. The full program will be just under two hours and feature 15 short works.

“We are thrilled to present Ballet Under the Stars for a fourth year in a row. It means so much to our staff, dancers, and students to see the massive crowds at this event. Our community gives so much to Oklahoma City Ballet, and this is a fun and exciting way to give back,” said Oklahoma City Ballet Executive Director Jo Lynne Jones.

Guests are encouraged to bring picnics, blankets, and lawn chairs. Some concessions and food trucks will be available at the park. Scissortail Park is located at 300 SW 7th Street in downtown Oklahoma City. In case of inclement weather, the event will be rescheduled for Saturday, September 29.


Oklahoma City Ballet will begin its official season at the Civic Center in October with Hamlet. Single tickets to all productions are available for purchase on September 5. Oklahoma City Ballet is a nonprofit organization that relies on the generosity of the community to help fulfil its
mission. Visit Oklahoma City Ballet’s website okcballet.org or follow their Facebook and Instagram pages (@okcballet) to learn more.