The Salvation Army Kroc Center’s Free Family Arts and Literacy Nights opens its 2024-25 series on Thursday, Oct. 10 at 7 p.m. with a free performance by San Diego Ballet’s The Firebird.

The performance is being held in the Joan Kroc Theater at the Kroc Center located at 6611 University Avenue. Prior to the performance, families are invited to the lobby at 6:15 p.m. to create an Origami Flapping Bird with visual artist Stacie Greene.

To register to attend this program, visit https://sd.kroccenter.org/kroc-san-diego/arts.

Folklore meets Fun! The Firebird is an ancient tale of a magical bird of fire that comes alive with a contemporary twist. San Diego Ballet’s Artistic Director, Javier Velasco’s, modern/ballet fusion and staging, teams classical dancers with hip hop artists, lighting up the stage with originality and boundless energy.

The Free Family Arts and Literacy Night series is a collaboration between The Salvation Army Kroc Center and Family Arts Collaborative San Diego.

Following the performance, each family will receive a copy of the book, Firebird, by American Ballet Theater principal dancer Misty Copeland. Firebird is the winner of the 2015 Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award and received the 2015 Ezra Jack Keats Book Award New Writer Honor.

All Family Arts and Literacy Nights are free to the public.

The series engages families in both live performance and hands-on workshops. In addition, each family takes home a free book that connects to the theme of the evening.

Upcoming Free Family Arts and Literacy dates include Nov. 14, 2024 and Jan. 30, Feb. 27, March 27 and May 22, 2025.

To register for future programs, visit https://sd.kroccenter.org/kroc-san-diego/arts.

(Courtesy image)