The premiere of the full-length ballet “Zal & Rudabeh” is created and directed by  choreographer Anna Djanbazian and performed by dancers from the Djanbazian Dance Company.The ballet is based on an epic tale “Shah-nameh,” the Book of Kings by Ferdowsi, an11th century Persian poet. It is a timeless tale of forbidden romance, war, triumph and the transcendental power of love. The ballet showcases this historic fable, interwoven with live percussion, song and  poetry recitation in both Persian and English.

The Djanbazian Dance Company members are comprised of Djanbazian Dance Academy’s finest dancers that are chosen every four years from the junior company.Djanbazian first performed in Tehran, Iran when she was only 5 years- old. When she was older she traveled abroad to study dance and received a B.A. in classical ballet and traditional folk dance from Russia.  She returned to Iran and created a dance company. After immigrating to the U.S. she established the Djanbazian Dance Academy in Glendale in 1988 before forming her company in 1992.The company dancers will be joined by guest narrators, Shahla Sarokhani and Kenwa Li Newell, guest dancers Maria Tikhomirova as Rudabeh and Enton Hoxha as Zal and guest musicians, Kourosh Moradi and Mehrdad Naghibian.

Curtain is at 7 p.m. on Oct. 4 at the Alex Theatre in Glendale.  Tickets can be purchased at the Alex box office, by phone (818) 243-2539 or online at the Alex website www.alextheatre.org.