Gabriella Hayes-Moore is the first dancer in many years to enter Ballet West 2 from the Ballet West Academy.  I hope you enjoy her Deseret News article.

-Mark

Ballet West opened Nutcracker in Ogden this evening.  There are performances at 2 and 7 tomorrow.  Don’t miss it!

Annie Breneman and Christopher Ruud try steps before the Act I curtain rises.

Elizabeth McGrath and Christopher Anderson try out steps before the Act II curtain rises.

Fear not!  If you can’t make it to Ogden, Ballet West will perform ‘The Nutcracker’ several times per week at the Capitol Theatre in Salt Lake City starting next weekend and running through the New Year.  Check the schedule on this website and be sure to read about our ‘Nutty Nutcracker’!

-Mark

When Ballet West’s Artistic Director Adam Sklute can make it work, he allows artists of Ballet West to do ‘guestings’.  A ‘guesting’ is a performance with another company or school.  Recently Adam was able, despite Ballet West’s busy schedule to make it work for Whitney Huell, former member of Ballet West 2 and current Ballet West artist to guest with her former alma mater South Carolina’s Governor’s School For the Arts.

Whitney Huell - photo by Stanislav Issaev

Whitney Huell - photo by Stanislav Issaev

-Mark

On Thursday, November 19, Ballet West Artistic Director Adam Sklute spoke to 50 guests at the Sons of the Utah Pioneers. Mr. Sklute shared his artistic vision of the Company’s 2009-10 Season, the history of Ballet West in Utah and the legacy of Willam Christensen’s The Nutcracker, opening in December. Adam was joined by two trainees from the Ballet West Academy: Ryan Sargent and Kathleen Martin. The young artists were in costume and demonstrated a few ballet steps. Additionally, Adam presented a short video highlighting the Company’s recently performed work “Songs of the Valley”, Bruce Marks’ tribute to Utah’s Mormon pioneers. The evening was enjoyed by all those in attendance.

Shari Quinney and Adam Sklute

Friday, November 20, 2009, Ballet West Artist Jennifer Robinson joined Development Director Denise Bégué for a check presentation by American Express Vice-President and Chief Operating Officer Brian Powell, on behalf of American Express Charitable Fund. American Express has been a long-time corporate partner with Ballet West, together serving the greater community of Salt Lake City and Utah.

Denise Begue, Jennifer Robinson, Brian Powell

-Mark

Artistic Director Adam Sklute and Gala Chair Sheryl Lafavi

'Defile' by Peter Christie - Ballet West Academy

Sara Webb and Christopher Sellars in 'Flames of Paris' after Vainonen

Christiana Bennett and Beau Pearson in 'Agon' - Balanchine

Ballet West 2 in 'O. N.' by Pamela Robinson Harris - Lindsay Duerfeldt, Robert Goodman, Jamie Lynn Schultz, Tyler Gum and Gabriella Hayes Moore

Romi Beppu and Michael Bearden in 'Lady of the Camellias' by Val Caniparoli

Katherine Lawrence and Christopher Ruud in 'Stars and Stripes' - Balanchine

Aaron Orlowski and Artists of Ballet West in "Polovtsian Dances From Prince Igor' - Fokine

-Mark

Christiana Bennett and Beau Pearson in AGON

Christiana Bennett and Beau Pearson in AGON

Katherine Lawrence and Christopher Ruud in Stars and Stripes

Romi Beppu and Michael Bearden in Lady of the Camellias

-Mark

As West Pointe readers you already know that our annual gala will be held this Saturday night.

Wonderful previews and just plain outrageous dancing will be in abundance for our gala audiences.

Thought I’d give you a sneak peek of Ballet West 2, costumed for their world premiere O.N. by Principal Ballet Mistress Pamela Robinson Harris.

Ballet West 2  (Photo taken at today’s Dress Rehearsal)

Kathryn Hein, Robert Goodman, Lindsay Duerfeldt (now in the main company!), Tyler Gum, Jamie Lynn Schultz, Stephen King, Elanor Bock, Gabriella Hayes Moore, Trevor Naumann, Henry Philofsky

-Mark

Kurt Bestor and Terence Kern Backstage

-Mark

Sara Webb and Thomas Mattingly

Sara Webb and Thomas Mattingly

Sara Webb with Artists of Ballet West

Final Bow of THE DREAM

-Mark

Some photos of THE DREAM taken backstage by Beau Pearson.

Thomas Mattingly and Arolyn Williams

Aidan DeYoung

Artists of Ballet West

Eduardo Permuy and Kira Smith

Artists of Ballet West

Megan Furse, Arolyn Williams and Alexander MacFarlan

-Mark