Christopher Ruud has graciously given his father Tomm Ruud’s 1969 ballet MOBILE to Ballet West II for our Iowa tour!  Chris with the assistance of his wife Christiana Bennett began teaching the simple yet difficult choreography last week and they will continue this coming week.

Chris shows BW2 a video of his father choreographing MOBILE

Christiana Bennett, Jamie Lynn Schultz and Christopher Ruud

Henry Philofsky, Christiana Bennett, Jamie Lynn Schultz, Christopher Ruud, Beckanne Sisk

Many companies have performed Tomm Ruud’s MOBILE and currently the Joffrey and Stuttgart companies have MOBILE in their repertoires.  Thank you for your generosity Chris!

-Mark

Adam Sklute has been working with Ballet West II this week.  He is teaching SPRING WATERS.

Adam Sklute demonstrates a step with Jamie Lynn Schultz

Ryan Sargent, Adam Sklute, Jamie Lynn Schultz

Adam Sklute with Jamie Lynn Schultz

-Mark

Bruce Marks graciously offered to coach Ballet West II in my staging of TARANTELLA from NAPOLI!   I’m sure you know that Bruce Marks was one of the great Artistic Directors of Ballet West.  But did you know that he was also the first American to become a principal dancer with the Royal Danish Ballet?

Adam Sklute and Bruce Marks speaking with Ballet West 2

Bruce Marks helping Trevor Naumann with his claps.

Mr. Marks teaching BW2 how to be Neapolitan villagers

-Mark

Introducing Ballet West 2!

Jamie Lynn Schultz, Ryan Sargent, Elanor Bock, Tyler Gum, Gabriella Hayes Moore, Ronalt Tilton, Kathryn Hein, Trevor Naumann, Kathleen Martin, Henry Philofsky, Beckanne Sisk

A couple of shots from today.

Ronald Tilton, Kathleen Martin warming up for class.

Trevor Naumann on the pilates reformer.

Tyler Gum practicing a position from LACRYMOSA solo.

-Mark

Ballet West II has a page on Facebook dedicated to the upcoming Iowa City tour.  Please join and get to know the dancers!

Facebook | The University of Iowa’s Hancher Presents Ballet West II

-Mark

Bruce Marks

This week Bruce Marks will begin teaching classes for the Ballet West/University of Utah Summer Intensive.  A native of New York City, Marks trained at the New York High School for the Performing Arts, Brandeis University, and The Juilliard School. His performing career began with the Metropolitan Opera Ballet after which he joined American Ballet Theatre. After ten years at ABT, he became the first American principal dancer at the Royal Danish Ballet, where he remained for five years. He was named Artistic Director of Ballet West in 1976, and in 1985 was appointed Artistic Director of Boston Ballet. Under his direction these companies built a reputation for presenting authentic versions of the classics and encouraging daring modern works. Mr. Marks was recently the Artistic Director of Orlando Ballet and Chairman of the Jury for the USA International Ballet Competition.

-Mark

Ballet West’s Artistic Director Adam Sklute arrived home from Jacob’s Pillow and went right in to teaching for the Ballet West/University of Utah summer intensive.  Other guest teachers coming up in the next weeks will be former Ballet West Artistic Director Bruce Marks, Joffrey Ballet’s Calvin Kitten and San Francisco Ballet’s Tina LeBlanc.

Adam Sklute teaching level 4

Kate Crews teaching Yoga

Calvin Kitten giving pointe shoe advice to Lauren. Bene Arnold approves.

Kate Crews conducting a pointe class at the Capitol Theatre where the 'lesser intensive' is held.

Heather Thackeray teaching repertoire to the younger students at the 'lesser intensive'.

Adam Sklute teaching level 4

-Mark

It’s time to give a nod to Kevin Semans our physical therapist and trainer.  Kevin does a stellar job keeping our dancers from getting injured by tailoring specific workout programs for them.

Back stage with Thomas Mattinly

For Kevin’s bio, check out the link below.

fasttrackphysicaltherapy.com

-Mark

As you read in the link/article below, Ballet West soloist Thomas Mattingly headed a small dance ensemble for the Utah Arts Festival.  The dancers – Ballet West principal Michael Bearden, soloists Kate Crews and Jaqueline Straughan, demi soloist Sayaka Ohtaki and Ririe Woodbury’s Caine Keenan.   Thomas created a solo for Caine Keenan to Debussy.  Then Thomas danced Le Corsaire Pas de Deux with Sayaka Ohtaki.  The program closed with PRONE, by Thomas Mattingly.  PRONE was commissioned by the Utah Arts Festival.

Sayaka Ohtaki and Thomas Mattingly in Le Corsaire Pas de Deux

Kate Crews, Michael Bearden, Jacqueline Straughan and Caine Keenan in PRONE

-Mark

Mattingly’s ‘Prone’ an impressive premiere dance commission for the Utah Arts Festival | Selective Echo

-Mark