Your Guide to Ballet West's Romeo and Juliet Ballet in Salt Lake City

Come Fall In Love All Over Again

After The Nutcracker, Romeo and Juliet is perhaps the most choreographed ballet of the last 60 years. The combination of Shakespeare's timeless love story and Prokofiev's beloved music creates an irresistible foundation for dance lovers in Utah.

Even if you only know Prokofiev's Romeo and Juliet music by its unforgettable melodies, you'll recognize the emotional power that has made this ballet a staple for dance companies worldwide.

As a ballet performance, the story integrates the unique ability of dance to communicate what words cannot, expressing deep emotions through movement synchronized with Prokofiev's masterful score. Even better, Michael Smuin's choreographic version is infused with intense theatricality from his experience in film, television, and Broadway.

Remember the lightsaber choreography in "Star Wars: Episode VI -- Return of the Jedi"? We have Michael Smuin to thank for that dynamic sword fighting.

Principal Artist Emily Adams in Romeo & Juliet | Photo by Beau Pearson

Romeo and Juliet Ballet Story Summary

Romeo Montague and Juliet Capulet, two teenagers from feuding Verona families, meet when Romeo and his friends Mercutio and Benvolio crash a Capulet family ball announcing Juliet's betrothal to Lord Paris. The young lovers fall instantly in love, despite their families' bitter animosity.

With help from Juliet's nurse, Romeo and Juliet secretly marry. Their new love shatters when Juliet's cousin Tybalt kills Mercutio, leading Romeo to slay Tybalt in revenge. Consequently, Prince Escalus banishes Romeo from Verona.

Meanwhile, to avoid her arranged marriage to Paris, Juliet fakes her death using Friar Lawrence's potion. Romeo returns to find Juliet seemingly dead and ends his life with poison. Juliet awakens to find Romeo dead, stabs herself, and their tragic deaths finally unite both feuding families in grief.

Spectacular Sword Fighting Choreography in Ballet

You're attending Romeo & Juliet ballet because it's one of the greatest love stories ever told, right? If not, come for the spectacular sword fighting! Michael Smuin's choreography features hundreds of different fencing moves throughout this Utah ballet production.

Smuin's Romeo & Juliet showcases some of the most complicated sword fighting choreography in classical ballet, performed at a brisk pace requiring dancers hours of rehearsal to master.

As Ballet West Principal Artist David Huffmire explains, "The fencing choreography is extremely intricate. We start rehearsals at a very slow tempo and work our way up to performance speed."

Principal Artists Adrian Fry & David Huffmire in Romeo & Juliet | Photo by Beau Pearson

The Iconic Balcony Scene Pas de Deux

Perhaps the most celebrated moment in the Romeo and Juliet ballet is the romantic pas de deux concluding Act I. As Ballet West Principal Artist Jenna Herrera describes, "When that Prokofiev music starts, you enter another world—it's pure magic. You feel the love radiating through every movement."

The technical ballet challenges prove as demanding as the emotional ones. "First, you don't want to fall off the balcony stairs," Herrera laughs. "You're supposed to maintain eye contact with Romeo while navigating the choreography...without falling."

Principal Artists Katlyn Addison & Hadriel Diniz in Romeo & Juliet | Photo by Beau Pearson

What to Watch For During the Performance

Experience carnival-like moments in Verona showing everyone celebrating. The opening street scenes are playful, and early sword fighting maintains a lighter, almost festive tone. It's all entertainment until tragedy strikes.

Notice how Romeo initially appears as a composed, peaceful character avoiding conflict. When his dear friend Mercutio dies, Romeo transforms—consumed by rage and falling into violence with a tragic moment so devastating it changes everything.

Listen carefully as Prokofiev's music shifts dramatically. The sword fighting musical theme returns in a haunting minor key as Romeo attacks Tybalt, and from that pivotal moment, nothing remains but heartbreaking tragedy.

Speaking of music, Sergei Prokofiev began composing his Romeo and Juliet score in 1935, launching the ballet's journey to becoming one of history's most famous dance works. Prokofiev's music became the catalyst for countless ballet adaptations, with virtually every major ballet company worldwide maintaining a Romeo and Juliet production in their repertory.

Ballet West Orchestra conducted by Muisc Director, Jared Oaks | Photo by Beau Pearson

Ballet West: Where Theater Meets Dance

Ballet represents one of the most complete art forms because dancers convey Shakespeare's emotional depth and poetic language through profound music, movement, stunning scenery, and elaborate period costumes. It's a total theatrical experience—every artistic element working together creating something transcending any single art form.

The challenge and magic emerge from how Ballet West dancers translate Shakespeare's poetic language into movement without spoken words. This timeless story unfolds through expressive gestures, classical pantomime, and the seamless marriage of Prokofiev's music with Smuin's choreography, achieving unparalleled emotional clarity.

Principal Artists Jenna Rae Herrera & Jordan Veit in Romeo & Juliet | Photo by Beau Pearson
 

Fall in Love with Ballet West's Romeo and Juliet

Whether this marks your first ballet experience or your fiftieth, Ballet West's Romeo & Juliet offers something for every Utah theatergoer: spectacular sword fights, breathtaking partnering, live orchestral music, and Shakespeare's story that has moved audiences for over 400 years.

Come fall in love with love itself, experiencing the power of dance to tell stories touching the human heart.

A Timeless Story for Modern Audiences

Romeo and Juliet captures universal human experiences transcending time: passionate young love, family conflict, and the eternal struggle between personal desires and societal expectations.

Ballet West's production arrives at a particularly meaningful moment. As Ballet West Artistic Director Adam Sklute notes, "Right now the world feels so polarized—we're divided by political beliefs, personal values."

"What we witness in Romeo and Juliet is that love can transcend everything," he continues. "These young people's love shines despite the hatred their families harbor, and while their deaths result from tragic mistakes, their sacrifice brings together two warring houses. Hopefully, audiences will celebrate our differences and love and respect each other regardless of background."

Mental Health and Wellness Consideration

"We recognize this emotionally charged time in our world, and acknowledge the ballet depicts suicide," Sklute said. "We take great care ensuring audiences understand that anyone contemplating suicide or experiencing mental health challenges should seek professional help. Our program includes resources for support."

Ready to Experience Ballet West's Romeo and Juliet? Tickets are available online at balletwest.org for performances at the Capitol Theatre in Salt Lake City. Book your Romeo and Juliet ballet tickets today and discover why this timeless love story continues captivating audiences worldwide.