An Unexpected Path to Ballet West II
When Solomon Fishman graduated from the Vaganova Ballet Academy in St. Petersburg, Russia in 2024, he had auditions lined up with companies across the U.S. and Europe when he was invited to join the Mariinsky Theatre.
What followed was an immersion in one of ballet’s most demanding environments that would shape him as a dancer and prepare him to join Ballet West II back in Salt Lake City. The Mariinsky Theatre performs seven or eight shows weekly, creating an intense rehearsal environment where new dancers must adapt quickly or get left behind.
“Three days’ notice before my first show was considered a ’luxury,’ and there were a lot of times I would get thrown into something at the last minute,” Fishman explains. “Nobody was
going to slow things down to help out the new guy.”
His solution? Self-directed preparation. “As soon as casting went up, I would teach myself the choreography from their video archive before the first rehearsal, that way I would
always be ready. It was like boot camp.”
The grueling pace paid dividends. Over one season, Fishman performed in 20 different ballets and danced approximately 150 shows, which was a crash course in professional repertoire
that few young dancers experience so intensely.
“On the plus side, I got a lot of practice learning tons of choreography fast,” he says.
Beyond the demanding schedule,the Mariinsky offered something extraordinary: the chance to train alongside dancers Fishman had admired from afar.
“It was surreal, getting to take class with these legendary dancers I’ve watched on YouTube and Instagram for years,” he reflects. “As challenging as it was, it was a once-in-a-lifetime
Experience.”
Fishman’s ability to thrive under such pressure didn’t happen by accident. The Boston native began training in Washington State under Vera Altunina before continuing at Pacific Northwest Ballet School. He moved to Salt Lake City in 2018 to join Ballet West Academy’s Pre-Professional Training Division, later becoming a Trainee in 2022.
During his time at Ballet West Academy, Fishman was selected as a Youth America Grand Prix finalist in both 2021 and 2022 and attended summer intensives on scholarship at the School
of American Ballet and Miami City Ballet.
“I’m so grateful to my family, and to Jeff Rogers, my teacher at Ballet West Academy, for preparing me and supporting me on that totally wild ride,” Fishman says.
Now back in Salt Lake City as a member of Ballet West II, Fishman brings the intensity and rapid-learning skills honed at the Mariinsky to a company he knows well.
“I’m excited to be back at Ballet West as a member of Ballet West II,” he says. “This company has an amazing group of dancers and staff, and a really diverse, incredible repertoire. There are so many great ballets I can’t wait to dance here.”
For Fishman, the journey has come full circle, from student at Ballet West Academy to international company dancer, and now to Ballet West II.