Ballet West’s 08 presentation of THE NUTCRACKER closed yesterday.  What a fantastic run!  The company did a stupendous job and gave their all and more to each and every audience.

Our final guest artist Reyneris Reyes who is formerly a Principal Dancer with Boston Ballet lit up the stage with his perfect classical technique and his expert partnering of Ballet West Principal Artist Romi Beppu.   We wish him all the best in 09 and hope to see him on our stage again soon!

Romi Beppu and Reyneris Reyes

Adam Sklute, Reyneris Reyes, Romi Beppu and Maestro Oaks     Rey and Romi

-Mark

Ballet West gave ticket buyers a wonderful Christmas gift today.  In addition to superb dancing today’s performance was a “Nutty Nutcracker”.  From in front of the main curtain Adam Sklute warned the audience that there would be occasional surprises, most of them subtle some not so subtle.  Ballet West artists, orchestra members and stage/prop/wardrobe crew had a blast and the audience approved!    We can’t wait until next year!

Some backstage, performance and post performance pictures for you:

Beau Pearson as Waldo and Peggy Dolkas as a Mirliton with an oversized hat.

Jennifer Robinson as a violin playing Mirliton, Christopher Sellars as an out of shape Russian dancers and Aaron Orlowski whipping him into shape.

Robert Goodman watches Jason Chinea as the Nutcracker Prince who judges Act II Divertissement and Silver Barkes was a Bumble Bee in the Waltz of the Flowers.

There were three Sugar Plum Fairies – Annie Brenemen, Katherine Lawrence, Christiana Bennett- and three Cavaliers.  Maestro Kern had the best intermission ever!

The audience instantly lept to their feet!

Christopher Sellars, Romi Beppu and guest artist Reyneris Reyes.  The Fenz Beauties!

Jennifer Robinson, Aimee Dunsmore with Trixie, and Jaqueline Straughan.  Allison DeBona with her sweetheart Jonathan Gupta.

Christopher Sellars and Heather Thackeray.                     Kate Crews and Linsey Reece.

Artistic Director Adam Sklute with his Dad John.  Ballet West II Artist Whitney Huell.

Zoe, daughter of Bruce Caldwell and a future Sugar Plum Fairy!

-Mark

After every matinee the audience is invited to the Sugar Plum Party which takes place on the stage of the Capitol Theatre in the Land of The Sweets scene from The Nutcracker!

Party attendees can have their picture taken with the Sugar Plum Fairy, her Cavlier, the Nutcracker Prince, the Mouse King, the Mouse Prince and Clara right on the Sugar Plum Fairy’s throne!  Pages from the Land of the Sweets are at the party too!

There is punch and cookies and souvenir Nutcrackers.  There is a magician and Cory A. Thorell – Ballet West’s Properties Master will show you how Mother Buffoon works. One can see the new sleigh and the Grandfather Clock which is the only scenic element of this production of The Nutcracker which has been in every performance since 1955, when Ballet West’s and America’s first full length production of The Nutcracker premiered.

There are only a few more matinee/Sugar Plum Parties left so be sure to check the calendar on the Ballet West Website’s opening page.  Click on Sugar Plum Party for more details.

Don’t worry, the line to get in moves quickly!

Annie Breneman as the Sugar Plum Fairy, Christopher Anderson as her Cavalier and David Kim as the Nutcracker Prince

And now a bonus for you!  Just a couple of backstage shots for fun.

Emily Adams, Christopher Sellars, Stephanie Fenz and Owen Gaj

Victoria Lock, Allison DeBona, Katherine Lawrence, Elizabeth Murphy and Silver Barkes as Mirlitons

Christiana Bennett and Christpher Ruud – Sugar Plum Fairy and her Cavalier

Peace out!

-Mark

In addition to Maestros Kern and LaMarche, Adam Sklute and Ballet West are presenting a 2nd guest conductor to Salt Lake City during the Nutcracker run!

Please welcome Maestro David Commanday.

David Commanday began his conducting career as Music Director of the Boston Ballet, performing with the company over five seasons in Boston and on tours through the United States, Britain, Western and Eastern Europe, and Mexico. He has conducted for Rudolf Nureyev and prima ballerinas Yoko Moroshita, Laura Young, Marie-Christine Mouis, Elaine Bauer, Patricia Barker, and Monique Loudières.  His extensive repertoire includes such classics as Giselle, Coppelia, Don Quixote, the Nutcracker, Swan Lake, Cinderella, The Prodigal Son, and Romeo and Juliet (Prokofiev), and contemporary masterworks by choreographers Balanchine, deMille, Joffrey, Arpino, Paul Taylor, Choo San Goh, Merce Cunningham, Elliot Feld, Sir Frederick Ashton, Jose Limon, William Soleau, and Violette Verdy.

Maestro Commanday has guest-conducted the Joffrey, Pacific Northwest, and Sacramento Ballets in wide-ranging works in performances across the continent.  He collaborated with Stoner Winslett as Principal Conductor of the Richmond (VA) Ballet, and in 1997 conducted for ABT Stars Irina Dvorenko and Maxim Belotserkovsky in the nationally-televised Gala opening of the New Jersey Performing Arts Center.  Commanday is currently Music Director of the Peoria Symphony Orchestra, and conducts for the Peoria and Joffrey Ballet Companies.

-Mark

Good Morning!  I just looked out my window to find the kind of winter wonderland for which Salt Lake City is famous!

But this kind of weather does not deter the Utah public from getting to the Capitol.  I’m sure todays matinee will be packed as usual.

When Ballet West is running Nutcracker at the Capitol Theatre, the party scene is not the only place that displays a lot of hustle and bustle!  Below are some pix from last night.

The Capitol Theatre Marquise and Ballet West 2 member Kaleigh Schock at the Coat Drive table.

BW Artist Beau Pearson and BW Soloist Kate Crews donate their time to the Coat Drive table.

A local choir performs for the public in our mezzanine and a little girl responds in the main lobby.

BW Apprentice Rex Tilton and BW Demi Soloist Christopher Sellars ‘get into character’ before Act II.

And last but not least BW Principal Artist Romi Beppu and Guest Artist Gregor Hatala, courtesy of Vienna State Opera Ballet pose post performance especially for the Ballet West Blog!

Gregor will be with us for three more shows next week so don’t miss this rare opportunity.

-Mark

Please welcome guest conductor David LeMarche.

Below is a portion from one of his recent interviews.
“I started playing piano at age ten, where I grew up, in Westerly, RI. My teacher was Florence Soloveitzik. Later, at Boston University, where I got a degree in music and piano, I also studied French and German. At Boston University, I met Ralph Gomberg, who played the oboe for the Boston Symphony, and his brother, Harold Gomberg played the oboe for the New York Philharmonic. After some time in San Francisco, I moved back to New York in 1983 and worked as a solo pianist and then, for fifteen years, as pianist and Conductor for the Dance Theatre of Harlem (1983-1996). I free-lanced under Gerald Arpino for the Joffrey Ballet, when they were in New York, and I also worked in cabaret, like the Club, “Don’t Tell Mama”. In 1998, American Ballet Theatre needed a rehearsal pianist, and soon I was appointed Conductor.”

-Mark

Please welcome Gregor Hatala!

Gregor Hatala arrived in Salt Lake City yesterday from the Vienna to dance with Ballet West in THE NUTCRACKER.  He will partner Ballet West Principal Artist Romi Beppu in the Grand Pas de Deux from Act II.

Mr. Hatala is currently a Principal Artist with Vienna State Opera Ballet but he has also been a soloist with Boston Ballet and has been a guest artist with the Hungarian National Ballet and the Slovakian National Ballet.

So make sure you get your tickets for this rare opportunity before they’re gone!

-Mark

Just in case you’ve not yet bought your tickets to see Ballet West’s spectacular NUTCRACKER, I’m posting some iPhone pix to entice you!  Also, don’t forget to bring a new or gently worn coat or blanket for our “Coat Drive”.  You may find a picture of yourself donating on this very blog!

Ballet West performs the very first full length version of Nutcracker to be presented in the United States and this year we have restored the original opening of Act 2!

Photos above feature the incredible Artists of Ballet West and the enchanting Children’s Cast in sumptuous costumes designed by David Heuvel.

-Mark

“The Nutcracker”: A Utah Holiday Tradition Begins
A holiday tradition begins next weekend: Ballet West will put on its 53rd production of “The Nutcracker.” The first production of the “The Nutcracker” was choreographed by Ballet West’s founder, William Christensen.” Since that first staging, every …
http://www.myfoxutah.com/myfox/pages/ContentDetail?contentId=7960726

The Nutcracker Kids — Part 1
Every Christmas season five to six hundred children audition for Utah’s Ballet West’s “The Nutcracker.” Many of these children put long hours into dance practice; and the decision to dance, audition, and finally making into the ballet production is a …
http://www.myfoxutah.com/myfox/pages/ContentDetail?contentId=7922731

The Nutcracker Kids — Part 2
Many young women dream of someday starring as Clara in “The Nutcracker.” That is because Clara dreams the nutcracker prince and his battle with the Mouse King. Four girls eventually get to the share the role in the production; but they, like other kids …
http://www.myfoxutah.com/myfox/pages/ContentDetail?contentId=7922848