KSL News | Ballet West partners with Park City Opera for first ever collaborative production
PARK CITY — Ballet and opera have always gone hand in hand throughout history, often viewed as the epitome of the performing arts. Ballet West is continuing that connection by sharing the stage with the Park City Opera to portray an iconic tragedy.
The Park City Opera is putting on a production of Charles Gounod's "Roméo et Juliette" next month. Dancers from Ballet West II, the company's pre-professional dancers, will perform alongside the opera with choreography by Ballet West's Michael Waldrop.
"I am a huge opera fan and have loved it my entire life," said Ballet West Artistic Director Adam Sklute. "I am thrilled that our second company dancers will have this marvelous opportunity to take part in an art form that is, in fact, where ballet was born."
Lisl Wangermann, soprano and co-founder of Park City Opera, conceived the collaboration, saying that adding dance to the show is integral to fully telling the love story.
"As a director, this is like doubling the number of colors in a painter's palette," she said. "I cannot wait to work with Michael Waldrop to create a fresh presentation of this timeless story."