Alabama colleges all play first-rate basketball as well. The Talladega Superspeedway , home of the Winston Select 500 and the Die Hard 500, is known as the fastest track in the world. Alabama Ballet, a professional ballet company of 20 dancers, gives glittering performances throughout the Southeast. Mikhail Baryshnikov, a former guest star, pronounced the company talented, young, energetic, and with great quality and determination. The Birmingham Opera Theater and the Mobile Opera stage a variety of operas during their October-May seasons.
Productions range from traditional to light and children's operas.
Both companies tour statewide. Birmingham's Festival of Arts is the oldest continuous arts festival in America and ranks nationally among the top ten. The largest space museum in the world. Its annual Space Camp draws children from around the world.