Sandy Jennings was back in Salt Lake these last two weeks staging Rubies (Balanchine) and overseeing Emeralds (Balanchine).  Since Maria Calegari already taught the company Diamonds (Balanchine) in the fall, Pamela Robinson Harris (one of our ballet mistresses) worked with us, putting the ballet back together.  This upcoming week will be spent perfecting Jewels (Balanchine) before we go into the theater the following week.

Jewels (Balanchine) rehearsals consume most of the studio time, however, Jodie Gates was here on Tuesday and Wednesday to spend a bit of time playing around with steps on the company.  Jodie choreographed a ballet two years ago on Ballet West II and will be choreographing on the main company this year for our Innovations program.  On top of all of that, Pamela Robinson Harris and Peggy Dolkas have been busy rehearsing Aladdin whenever time permits.  So, a lot is happening in the world of Ballet West, as usual.  I took a few photos of Jewels rehearsals from the last two weeks.

Arolyn Williams, Sayaka Ohtaki & Thomas Mattingly rehearsing EMERALDS by George Balanchine (c) The George Balanchine Trust

Katherine Lawrence & Christopher Anderson rehearsing EMERALDS by George Balanchine (c) The George Balanchine Trust

Jordan Richardson rehearsing EMERALDS by George Balanchine (c) The George Balanchine Trust

Emily Adams, Haley Hendersen Smith & Elizabeth McGrath rehearsing RUBIES by George Balanchine (c) The George Balanchine Trust

Katie Critchlow rehearsing RUBIES by George Balanchine (c) The George Balanchine Trust

Jacqueline Straughan & Christopher Sellars rehearsing the RUBIES pas de deux by George Balanchine (c) The George Balanchine Trust

Arolyn Williams rehearsing EMERALDS by George Balanchine (c) The George Balanchine Trust

By they way, this is how ballerinas sleep …

Beckanne Sisk

-Beau

The main company had last week off, so Ballet West II and the Ballet West Academy utilized the empty studios to put together Aladdin (Pamela Robinson-Harris/Peggy Dolkas).  Last year, ballet mistress Pamela Robinson-Harris and Peggy Dolkas choreographed The Little Mermaid for the season’s family series.  The Little Mermaid was received really well by the audience and proved to be a great show for kids and their parents.  This year, Pamela and Peggy are tag teaming together again to choreograph Aladdin, featuring the artists of Ballet West II.  Tickets can be purchased for the world premiere for April 6th, 8th and 9th.  I stopped by the studio last week to see how things were going and to snap a few shots of the rehearsals.

Zachary Prentice, Paige Adams & Ian Tanzer

Ian Tanzer & Jordan Veit

Pamela Robinson-Harris working with Ian Tanzer & Zachary Prentic

Logan Martin & Kaya Aman

-Beau