State Street Ballet brings its 2023/24 season to a close with “Other Voices,” featuring the talents of  contemporary creators who push boundaries, redefining the art of dance.

Two dancers, wearing green dance costumes, rehearse for a segment in 'Other Voices,' May 10-11 at the Lobero Theatre.
‘Other Voices’ will be performed May 10-11 at the Lobero Theatre. (Courtesy photo)

With choreography ranging from classical to experimental idioms, the production includes new works — “Corelli Concerto” by Nilas Martins, “The S.I.T.” by Royce Zackery, and “A Warm Window” by Nicole Powell, plus audience favorites “As We Always Have” by Laurie Eisenhower, and “Common Ground” by Edgar Zendejas.

Performances are 7:30 p.m. Friday, May 10, and Saturday, May 11, at the Lobero Theatre.

Classical ballet, contemporary ballet, and modern dance are the disciplines that inform the four short works that open “Other Voices.” The pieces showcase aspects of these mediums, settiung the stage for the integration of performance styles and techniques in the longer finale,

Martins’ “Corelli Concerto” is a classical and ballet-focused piece with precise pointe work, set to music by Arcangelo Corelli.

Just under eight minutes in length, it features three women who Martins praised for “their understanding of the musicality and the shifts and transitions in dynamic energy that are required for some of the choreographic sequences. I love how these three performers dance in perfect harmony and still come across with their individual personalities.”

“Life itself” is the inspiration for choreographer Zackery’s “The S.I.T.” Based on his observations as an educator, Zackery focuses on the human need to “sit with things you’ve gone through, whether good or bad,” and reflect on them. Zackery has been a contributor to State Street Ballet since 2010.

Powell’s “A Warm Window” is about resilience; experiencing the struggle, hurt, growth, stagnation, and joy that makes us human. The first section of the work depicts a world with a range of emotions and specific memories in an intimate setting. The second explores joy and playfulness in a group setting, celebrating individual complexities, accomplishments, and perseverance.

“As We Always Have,” with music by Ludivico Einaudi and Armand Amar, and choreography by Eisenhower, was last performed by State Street Ballet in 2019. Focused on the cyclical nature of our lives, the unexpected style of the piece makes it a favorite among serious dance watchers and professional dance makers.

Premiered in 2015 by three diverse companies (State Street Ballet, Detroit’s Eisenhower Dance, and UCSB’s Santa Barbara Dance Theater), and last performed by State Street Ballet in 2017 at the International Ballet Gala in Santiago, Chile, “Common Ground” speaks to the human condition.

Zendejas’ choreography, set to Max Richter’s recomposition of Vivaldi’s “The Four Seasons,” explores evolutions, changes, and the unfolding of lifes’ paths.

Zendejas uses classical pointe work, contemporary movement, and modern dance segments to portray the uniqueness of each of the seasons. The dance culminates in a finale where all styles are performed on stage together, creating a wholistic vision of equity through the common language of dance.

Tickets are available at www.lobero.org, or 805-963-0761, or at the Lobero Theatre box office. Tickets prices are $26-$58. Discounts of 20% are available for parties of 10 or more; call the Lobero box office to purchase.

Fore more about State Street Ballet, visit statestreetballet.com.