Tonight we open our 2012-2013 season in Salt Lake City with our annual Gala.  I think this is one of the best Gala programs compared to any other year that I’ve been with the company.  The show opens with the Ballet West Academy performing Defile, then Ballet West II performs Christopher Ruud’s new work, Without Fall.  The main company closes the evening with the second half of Jiri Kylian’s Petite Mort, La Esmeralda pas de deux, the pas de deux from George Balanchine’s Diamonds, and Nicolo Fonte’s Bolero.  Thanks to Amy Potter for taking a picture of me and Christiana during last night’s dress rehearsal.

Ballet West II in Christopher Ruud’s WITHOUT FALL

Elizabeth McGrath, Haley Henderson Smith & Sayaka Ohtaki in Jiri Kylian’s PETITE MORT

Beckanne Sisk in ESMERELDA PAS DE DEUX

Christiana Bennett & Beau Pearson in DIAMONDS by George Balanchine (c) The George Balanchine Trust

Katherine Lawrence & Michael Bearden in Nicolo Fonte’s BOLERO

Emily Adams, Jacqueline Straughan & Allison Debona in Nicolo Fonte’s BOLERO

-Beau