Ballet West Presents World Premiere of "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow"

SALT LAKE CITY, UT — Ballet West will be performing the world premiere of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, the newest addition to the Family Classics Series, choreographed by Pamela Robinson-Harris. Running March 27 and 28 at the Janet Quinney Lawson Capitol Theatre in Salt Lake City, this production is perfect for young families or audience members unfamiliar with ballet. English narration is featured on both dates, and by popular demand, the evening performance on March 28 is offered exclusively with Spanish narration.

 

Based on Washington Irving's beloved American tale, this production brings one of literature's most enduring ghost stories to the ballet stage, presented by Ballet West II and students from the Frederick Quinney Lawson Ballet West Academy.

Robinson-Harris created this production while undergoing cancer treatment and bone marrow transplants, crediting the creative work with helping her heal. “It gave me things to think about when I wasn’t wiped out from treatment,” said Robinson-Harris.
 

She faced a unique creative challenge of adapting to the spooky atmosphere of Sleepy Hollow for audiences that include five-year-olds. Through extensive research from the 1949 Disney adaptation to the real Sleepy Hollow in New York, she's crafted a ballet that honors the original story while ensuring it delights young viewers.
 

Set in a misty, mysterious town in upstate New York, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow follows schoolteacher Ichabod Crane as he falls for Katrina Van Tassel, only to find himself in a dangerous rivalry with the bold Brom Bones and face to face with the legend of the Headless Horseman.

 

"Pamela Robinson-Harris has created a ballet that is both chilling and deeply human — a story of love, jealousy, ambition, and the very fine line between imagination and reality,” said Ballet West Artistic Director Adam Sklute. “We are thrilled to give this iconic tale its world premiere as a full-length ballet."

 

Perfect for families, ballet enthusiasts, and lovers of American folklore alike, Sleepy Hollow is an evening of mystery, romance, and breathtaking dance that will leave audiences wondering: did Ichabod escape the darkness — or vanish into legend?

Major support for the creation of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow has been generously provided by The Estate of Dorothy B. Cromer and The Joseph and Kathleen Sorenson Legacy Foundation.