Diablo Ballet celebrates the New Year with the second program of its 26th Season, Balanchine & Beyond featuring George Balanchine’s iconic Who Cares? set to George Gershwin’s award- winning Broadway tunes. The program salutes female choreographers showcasing the deeply musical pas de deux Berceuse by Penny Saunders, set to a lullaby by Benjamin Godard; and the lyrical Bach Suite for Strings by Sally Streets, set to the music of Johann Sebastian Bach. The program also includes the exciting Esmeralda and a lush ballet, Forward Thinking, by company dancer Michael Wells, set to Justin Levitt’s poetic composition which will be performed live. Following each performance, ticket holders are invited to stay for a dessert and coffee post- performance reception where they can meet and mingle with the dancers.

WHEN: 8 pm – February 7 & 8 and 2 pm – February 8

WHERE: Del Valle Theatre, 1963 Tice Valley Blvd., Walnut Creek RUNNING TIME: 1 hour 25 minutes, one intermission

TICKETS: $15-$48 925-943-7469; lesherartscenter.org, diabloballet.org