Ballet West Returns from Esteemed Kennedy Center Festival

A special report by Artistic Director Adam Sklute

Greetings! The past couple of months have been a whirlwind of activity – our Ballet West dancers were diligently preparing for the Company’s long-awaited return to The Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. And on June 10 and 11, Ballet West had the privilege of launching The Kennedy Center’s prestigious weeklong festival “Ballet Across America”. Ballet West was greeted with huge ovation from a packed house for their performance of George Balanchine’s 1934 masterpiece, Serenade, set to the music of Tchaikovsky.  A Russian immigrant, Balanchine was proud of his American Citizenship, and as Serenade is the first ballet he created in the United States, it was a perfect work to open the festival.  The Ballet West dancers were praised for their dancing, artistry, glamour and their height, which was noted to be as tall, majestic and inspiring as the mountain ranges of Utah.  They are to be commended for their remarkable accomplishments!

It was a great honor for Ballet West to be asked to open the whole festival, and with such a masterpiece as George Balanchine’s Serenade. We are proud to have been cultural ambassadors for our great state of Utah.

Prior to our final performance in D.C., Senator Orrin Hatch and Senator Robert Bennett – together with President Stan Albrecht of Utah State University – co-hosted a reception during which more than 50 local dignitaries and supporters came together to commemorate Ballet West’s  return to the Kennedy Center stage.  

Critical Acclaim for Ballet West

“'Serenade' was recognizably Balanchine – the dancers fleet, elegant and pulled up. The dancers’ long, lean lines were beautiful; they looked groomed. In 'Serenade' (led by Christiana Bennett, Kate Crews, Katherine Lawrence, Michael Bearden and Hua Zhuang) the dancing was strong and free…everyone was musical, and no one tried to act. A subtle and sophisticated performance.”

— Alexandra Tomalonis, danceviewtimes.com

 “Ballet West adopted a by-the-book approach [to 'Serenade'], shaping it with care, taking no liberties.  It was a clean, honest production…this 'Serenade' felt spacious and open. The dancers…had a highly physical presence that lent 'Serenade' a hint of glamour.”

— Sarah Kaufman, The Washington Post

“There are features of Ballet West’s account of 'Serenade' – beautifully conducted by Terence Kern – that the Kirov (seen in April at New York City Center) could have emulated to advantage.’Serenade' shone through enough for you to lose yourself in its kaleidoscope of classical patterns and romantic dramas.”

— Alistair Macauley, The New York Times

Check out the Ballet West Blog for picutres and behing-the-scenes info about Ballet West at the Kennedy Center.