
Joined Ballet West II: 2009
Joined Ballet West: 2010
Promoted to Demi Solist: 2014
Promoted to Soloist: 2016
Promoted to First Soloist: 2018
Promoted to Principal: 2023
Tyler Gum is originally from Calhan, Colorado. He began his professional career with Ballet West II in 2009, rose through the ranks, and is currently dancing as a Principal Dancer with the company.
Tyler received his early training with the Ballet Society of Colorado Springs and Fernando Schaffenburg at the Sangre de Cristo Ballet Theatre. He attended summer programs on scholarship at Walnut Hill, Harid Conservatory, and the Pacific Northwest Ballet School. He studied at the University of Arizona and is completing his bachelor’s degree in Ballet at the University of Utah.
He has performed leading roles in Ashton’s Cinderella, Cranko's Onegin, de Mille's Rodeo, Kylián's Petite Mort, Robbins’ Fancy Free, and Stevenson’s Dracula. His repertoire also includes works by Balanchine, Christensen, Forsythe, and many others.
Tyler is an experienced teacher and choreographer, having taught at Ballet West Academy, Rise Up School of Dance, Halili-Cruz School of Dance (Philippines), and A Time to Dance Ballet School. He has choreographed for Ballet West II and the Ballet West main company. He is also a published children’s book illustrator (Butterfly, Fly, and I) and holds a coaching certification from the Coach Training Alliance. Tyler continues to hone his craft and looks forward to sharing his passion for dance in the studio and onstage.
Click below to see Tyler’s roles.
2022-23 Season
- Onegin (Cranko) Onegin
- Return to a Strange Land (Kylián)
- Rodeo (DeMille) Champion Roper
- The Nutcracker (Christensen) Drosselmeyer, Mouse King, Snow Cavalier, Arabian, Chinese Warrior, Waltz of the Flowers, Sugar Plum Cavalier
ON TOUR
- Orange (Nunes) – Ballet West in the Garden, Red Butte Garden Amphitheater, Salt Lake City, Utah
2021-22 Season
- Dracula (Stevenson) Frederick, Innkeeper
- The Nutcracker (Christensen) Herr Stahlbaum, Mouse King, Snow King, Arabian, Chinese Warrior, Waltz of the Flowers, Sugarplum Cavalier
- Romeo + Juliet (Smuin) Benvolio
ON TOUR
- The Solo Year (Neenan) – Ballet West in the Garden, Red Butte Garden Amphitheater, Salt Lake City, Utah
- Romeo + Juliet (Smuin) Benvolio – George S. and Dolores Doré Eccles Center, Park City, Utah
2020-21 Season
- Tides (Archibald)
- Nine Sinatra Songs (Tharp) “Forget Domani,” “My Way”
- Precious Gems
- Variations For Four (Dolin) Fire
- The Solo Year (Neenan) Choreographic Festival (Rose Wagner Theater, Salt Lake City)
- The Thing With Feathers (Adams) Choreographic Festival (Rose Wagner Theater, Salt Lake City)
ON TOUR
- The Thing With Feathers (Adams) – George S. and Dolores Doré Eccles Center, Park City, Utah
- The Solo Year (Neenan) – George S. and Dolores Doré Eccles Center, Park City, Utah
2019-20 Season
- Le Chant Du Rossingnol (Balanchine) Mechanical Nightingale
- The Nutcracker (Christensen) Herr Stahlbaum, Mouse King, Snow Cavalier, Arabian, Chinese Warrior, Russian Waltz of the Flowers, Sugar Plum Cavalier
- Giselle (Sklute, after Coralli and Perrot) Wilfred, Hilarion, Peasant Pas de Quatre
ON TOUR
- Giselle (Sklute, after Coralli and Perrot) Wilfred –The Soraya, Los Angeles, California
2018-19 Season
- Jewels (Balanchine) Emeralds, Diamonds
- The Nutcracker (Christensen) Mouse King, Chinese Warrior, Russian, Waltz of the Flowers, Sugar Plum Cavalier
- Swan Lake (Sklute, after Petipa and Ivanov) Benno
- Onegin (Cranko) Neighbors, Old Man
- Constant Light (Liang) Choreographic Festival (Rose Wagner Theater, Salt Lake City)
ON TOUR
- The Nutcracker (Christensen) Mouse King, Chinese Warrior, Waltz of the Flowers, Sugar Plum Cavalier – Kennedy Center, Washington, D.C.
2017-18 Season
- Carmina Burana (Fonte)
- The Nutcracker (Christensen) Mouse King, Snow Cavalier, Spanish, Chinese Warrior, Russian, Waltz of the Flowers, Sugar Plum Cavalier
- Cinderella (Ashton) Cinderella’s Father, The Prince, Stepsister
- Return to a Strange Land (Kylián)
- The Shakespeare Suite (Bintley) Bottom
- Jabula (Weir) National Choreographic Festival (Rose Wagner Theater, Salt Lake City)
2016-17 Season
- Madame Butterfly (Welch) The Bonze, Prince Yamadori, Yamadori Attendant
- The Nutcracker (Christensen) Grandfather, Mouse King, Snow Cavalier, Spanish, Chinese Warrior, Russian, Waltz of the Flowers
- The Sleeping Beauty (Sklute, after Petipa) Catalbutte, Prince Floristan, Bluebird, Tutor
- Chaconne (Balanchine)
- Facades (Smith)
- The Green Table (Jooss) Standard Bearer, Gentleman in Black
- Fox on the Doorstep (Fonte) National Choreographic Festival (George S. and Dolores Doré Eccles Theater, Salt Lake City)
- Tremor (Oguma) National Choreographic Festival (George S. and Dolores Doré Eccles Theater, Salt Lake City)
2015-16 Season
- Fancy Free (Robbins)
- Overgrown Path (Kylián) “A Blown-Away Leaf,” “Come With Us,” “Words Fail”
- Symphony in C (Balanchine) Third Movement
- The Nutcracker (Christensen) Grandfather, Mouse King, Nutcracker Prince, Spanish, Waltz of the Flowers, Chinese Warrior, Russian
- Romeo and Juliet (Cranko) Carnival Dancers
- The Rite of Spring (Fonte)
- In Memoriam (Ruud) (Rose Wagner Theater, Salt Lake City)
- Barre Spot (Sellars) (Rose Wagner Theater, Salt Lake City)
- Homer: A Study in Phenomenological Ontology (Naumann) (Rose Wagner Theater, Salt Lake City)
- Lyric Pieces (Lang) (Rose Wagner Theater, Salt Lake City)
2014-15 Season
- Giselle (Sklute after Perrot and Coralli) Peasant Pas de Quatre, Peasant Men
- The Nutcracker (Christensen) Drosselmeyer, Grandfather, Mouse King, Nutcracker Prince, Spanish, Waltz of the Flowers, Chinese Warrior, Russian
- Swan Lake (Sklute, after Petipa) Benno, Spanish Escort
- Square Dance (Balanchine)
- Almost Tango (Fonte)
- Pulse (Fry) Innovations (Rose Wagner Theater, Salt Lake City)
- The Hunt (Addison) Innovations (Rose Wagner Theater, Salt Lake City)
ON TOUR
- The Lottery (Caniparoli) – Royal Theater, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
- Mercurial Landscapes (Gates) – Royal Theater, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
- Mercurial Landscapes (Gates) – Winspear Opera House, Dallas, Texas
- In the Middle, Somewhat Elevated (Forsythe) – Winspear Opera House, Dallas, Texas
- The Sixth Beauty (Neenan) – Joyce Theater, New York City, New York
- The Lottery (Caniparoli) – Joyce Theater, New York City, New York
- The Nutcracker (Christensen) – Austad Auditorium, Ogden, Utah
- The Nutcracker (Christensen) – Kennedy Center, Washington, D.C.
- Mercurial Landscapes (Gates) – Aspen Performing Arts Center, Aspen, Colorado
2013-14 Season
- The Firebird (Christensen) Monster (Kingsbury Hall, Salt Lake City)
- Petite Mort (Kylián)
- Who Cares? (Balanchine) “Bidin’ My Time,” “Lady Be Good”
- The Nutcracker (Christensen) Herr Stahlbaum, Grandfather, Mouse King, Nutcracker Prince, Spanish, Chinese Warrior, Russian
- The Sleeping Beauty (Sklute after Petipa) Catalbutte, Beast, Bluebird
- Forgotten Land (Kylián)
- Divertimento #15 (Balanchine)
- Rite of Spring (Fonte)
- The Sixth Beauty (Neenan) Innovations (Rose Wagner Theater, Salt Lake City)
- Great Souls (Ruud) Innovations (Rose Wagner Theater, Salt Lake City)
2012-13 Season
- The Lottery (Caniparoli) Mr. Dunbar
- The Nutcracker (Christensen) Mouse King, Nutcracker Prince, Chinese Warrior, Russian, Mother Buffoon
- Cinderella (Ashton) Prince’s Friend, Jester
- Jewels (Balanchine) Rubies, Diamonds
2011-12 Season
- Dracula (Stevenson)
- The Nutcracker (Christensen) Mouse King, Spanish, Chinese Warrior
- Don Quixote (Holmes after Petipa) Matador, Sancho Panza
2010-11 Season
- The Nutcracker (Christensen) Bear
- The Sleeping Beauty (world premiere Sklute after Petipa) Carabosse’s Minion
- Chaconne (Balanchine)
- Regarding Us (Adams) Innovations (Rose Wagner Theater, Salt Lake City)
- White Noise (Scher) Innovations (Rose Wagner Theater, Salt Lake City)
2009-10 Season
- Songs of the Valley (Marks)
- The Dream (Ashton)
- The Nutcracker (Christensen)
- Swan Lake (world premiere of Sklute after Petipa)
- Stars and Stripes (Balanchine)
Photos by Beau Pearson