OPENING DOORS TO DANCE EDUCATION

Prior to the public opening of Ballet West productions, an audience made up of junior high and high school students, educators, and participants from dance studios sits in the balcony of the theatre, learning from the best of the best in the ballet world.

Known as First Look, the Ballet West program incorporates dance into education as students gain exclusive access to ballet’s inner workings. First Look participants learn about complex elements of ballet production, musical interpretation, and choreographic development. Afterwards, the attendees leave with a tool belt of new experiences that they can apply to their educational curriculum.

Orchestra Director Allen Lyon from Providence Hall brings his students to expose them to rich cultural experiences, noting that his class particularly connected with Swan Lake from last season. In an era dominated by digital distractions, Lyon said he values how these performances encourage students to be fully present and engaged.

The program also reaches diverse audiences, including the time Tiffany Brown attended Cinderella’s First Look with special needs students from Taylorsville High School. “Students were enthusiastically discussing the performance afterward,” said Brown, who danced at the Ballet West Conservatory and performed in Cinderella 30 years ago.

For aspiring dancers, seeing a professional company in their community provides invaluable inspiration and a realistic glimpse of the profession they’re pursuing. For musicians, it demonstrates the broader applications of their craft beyond traditional settings. By offering these experiences at no cost, Ballet West ensures that educational enrichment and cultural exposure remain accessible to all students across the community.

First Look provides students with more than just passive learning from the theatre balcony; it offers hands-on opportunities through intimate exposure to the art form. This community engagement is central to Ballet West’s mission, according to Director of Education and Community Outreach Peter Christie.

“The opportunity to contribute amplifies the community’s role in nurturing positive change and sustaining our transformative experiences,” said Christie. “Ballet West’s community programming not only celebrates the art of ballet but also resonates with its commitment to creating meaningful connections and inspiring progress in all participants.”