Ballet West News

The Tempest Bids You, “Come Unto These Yellow Sands”

Ballet West opens 2008-09 season with the Utah premiere of Michael Smuin’s Emmy-nominated ballet of William Shakespeare’s The Tempest, November 7-15 at the Capitol Theatre, 50 West 200 South in downtown Salt Lake City.  With choreography by one of Utah’s favorite sons, the late, great Michael Smuin, and a commissioned score based on the music of Henry Purcell, The Tempest is a tale of magical beings and all-too-human humans entwined in a net of love, humor, conflict and reconciliation.The Tempest will be accompanied by the Utah Chamber Orchestra, conducted by Terence Kern. Evening performances begin at 7:30 p.m. November 7, 8 and 12-15, with a matinee performance at 2:00 p.m. on November 15.In conjunction with the performances of The Tempest, Ballet West offers Warm Ups. These fun and informative discussions are free of charge to ticket holders and will begin promptly one hour prior to each presentation of The Tempest. Get the inside scoop on the evening’s program including background on the ballet, information on the choreographer and other interesting behind-the-scenes facts. At Warm Ups, members of the Ballet West artistic staff are available to answer any questions that the audience may have.Tickets range from $18 - $72 and are available through ArtTix by calling 355-ARTS (2787 or 1-888-451-2787, at www.arttix.org, or at the Capitol Theatre ticket office.

BALLET WEST EMBARKS ON 2008-09 SEASON WITH
ANNUAL PERFORMANCE GALA, NOVEMBER 1
Exclusive Evening is Sneak Preview for Future Seasons

Ballet West kicks off its 2008-09 performance year with an explosive season opener – the Company’s annual Gala on Saturday, November 1 at 6:30 p.m.  This fast-paced, hour-long performance highlights every aspect of Ballet West, from its Academy to the youthful up-and-comers of Ballet West II, as well as Ballet West’s glamorous and versatile Artists. Designed as an evening of previews for future seasons, the program is followed by an elegant evening of dinner and dancing at The Grand America Hotel, 535 South Main Street in downtown Salt Lake City.

The Program
Ballet West’s annual gala opens with a Defile performance by The Ballet West Academy, celebrating all levels of the official ballet school. The line-up also features the grand finale from George Balanchine’s elegant, classic and exciting Chaconne, set to music by Christoph Willibald Gluck, followed by an excerpt from Twyla Tharp’s Brief Fling, a chic, high-energy, classically based contemporary ballet. The evening continues with Ben Stevenson’s achingly beautiful Three Preludes, an intimate pas de deux to solo piano music by Serge Rachmaninoff, followed by an ensemble work for Ballet West II choreographed by Heather Gray. Also on the program is a delicate solo from Gerald Arpino’s Kettentanz with music by Johann Meyer. Closing the sumptuous show, Ballet West will perform an excerpt from Michael Smuin’s The Tempest with music by Paul Chihara, based on the music of Henry Purcell.

Ticket Information
Tickets for the performance and dessert reception are $75; VIP tickets that include the performance, dessert reception, cast party, and dinner and dancing are $175.  VIP tables are also available. All proceeds from this event benefit Ballet West’s educational and artistic programs. For more information on Ballet West’s annual gala, contact Ashlee Christofferson at (801) 323-6917.

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To follow is a link to a review in the June 12th issue of “The Washington Post” regarding Ballet West’s performance of George Balanchine’s “Serenade” at The Kennedy Center.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/06/11/AR2008061103909.html

Company Joins With Other Renowned Ballet Organizations for “Ballet Across America”

On Tuesday, June 10 and Wednesday, June 11, Ballet West will join eight additional renowned ballet companies in Washington, D.C. as part of “Ballet Across America,” a celebration of the remarkable breadth and depth of American ballet. 

The Company will perform George Balanchine’s Serenade, the first ballet Balanchine created in the United States. Performed to the music of Tchaikovsky, this sweeping work us much loved for its exhilarating movement, lush musicality and the moving drama it displays without telling an actual story. 

“I am thrilled that we are returning to The Kennedy Center after sixteen years,” said Ballet West Artistic Director Adam Sklute.  “It is an honor to be asked to open the whole festival and with such a masterpiece as George Balanchine’s Serenade. Our artists are stunning in the work and we are proud to be cultural ambassadors for our great state of Utah.”

A part of The Kennedy Center Ballet Series, the entire “Dance Across America” program runs from June 10 to 15 and features three mixed repertory programs – each highlighting an envoy of dance from the eastern, middle, and western U.S.  East coast companies include Pennsylvania Ballet, The Washington Ballet and Boston Ballet. From America’s heartland comes Kansas City Ballet , Chicago’s Joffrey Ballet and Houston Ballet.  In addition to Ballet West, Rocky Mountain companies that will perform are Pacific Northwest Ballet and Oregon Ballet Theatre.

The program is as follows:

June 10 & 11 at 7:30 p.m.
Ballet West–Serenade (Balanchine/Tchaikovsky)
Pennsylvania Ballet–In the Night (Robbins/Chopin)
Houston Ballet–Velocity (Welch/Torke)

June 12 at 7:30 p.m. & June 14 at 1:30 & 7:30 p.m.
Pacific Northwest Ballet–Jardí Tancat (Duato/del Mar Bonet)
Kansas City Ballet–The Still Point (Bolender/Debussy)
The Washington Ballet–Nine Sinatra Songs (Tharp/various)

June 13 at 7:30 p.m. & June 15 at 1:30 p.m.
Boston Ballet–Brake the Eyes (Elo/Mozart)
The Joffrey Ballet–Lilac Garden (Tudor/Chausson)
Oregon Ballet Theatre–RUSH (Wheeldon/Martinu)

Tickets prices range from $29 to $85 and are available at www.kennedy-center.org or by calling (800) 444-1324 between 10 a.m. and 9 p.m. Eastern Time. 

SALT LAKE CITY - May 1, 2008 -  The individual personalities of Ballet West artists will shine during Innovations, May 28-31 at the Rose Wagner Theatre, 138 West Broadway. This inaugural event will showcase three original works created by Ballet West dancers, for Ballet West dancers.

Principal Artist Christopher Ruud, Soloist Peggy Dolkas and Artist Megan Furse will premiere their works alongside the return of James Canfield’s mesmerizing Equinoxe, set to the music of Jean Michel Jarre, and the world premiere of up-and-coming choreographer Susan Shields’ Grand Synthesis.  Set to music by Graham Fitkin, Shield’s new work is a piece commissioned especially for Ballet West.  

“Susan is an emerging and unique voice in the world of dance,” said Ballet West Artistic Director Adam Sklute.  “Her work is energetic, dynamic, extremely musical and creative while maintaining classical purity.  By opening the ‘Innovations’ program with a newly created work on our Ballet West artists we are introducing Susan’s distinctive style to Utah.”

Since its inception in 1963, Ballet West has taken great pride in performing new works by not only world-renowned choreographers, but by the Company’s celebrated artistic leaders. From Ballet West Founder Willam Christensen on, the Company has created new works on its dancers, premiering them to both local and national audiences.

“Innovations is an exciting new endeavor for Ballet West,” said Artistic Director Adam Sklute. ”Our dancers are fantastically creative artists, and this program gives them a platform to experiment with choreography. In doing so, we also further the art-form of ballet by presenting an evening of new creations.  This is a must see.”

Ballet West’s Innovations is an exceptional way to experience brand-new creations by the next generation of choreographers. Tickets to Innovations are $30 and are on sale now through ArtTix by calling 355-ARTS or visiting www.arttix.org.

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