60th Anniversary Season

Salt Lake City, UT— In a live event* at the Janet Quinney Lawson Capitol Theatre, Ballet West Artistic Director Adam Sklute announced the internationally-acclaimed Company’s 60^th Anniversary Season, highlighted by three full-length story ballets, three world premieres, a KSL-TV broadcast, and unique historic masterpieces. The season begins in October at the Janet Quinney Lawson Capitol Theatre, and is generously sponsored by the George S. and Dolores Doré Eccles Foundation, Intermountain Health, Salt Lake Zoo, Arts & Park, and Intermountain Health.

“For this season, I wanted to honor the legacy of our founder, Willam Christensen, a visionary committed to the history of ballet, but also to its future,” said Sklute. “In addition, I want to pay homage to all of my predecessors in unique and subtle ways by presenting a mix of audience favorites and new creations.”

The 60^th Season is following two years of record attendance and audience growth. The Company is also pleased to welcome back accompaniment by the Ballet West Orchestra, led by Ballet West Music Director Jared Oaks.

The season opens with the return of Ben Stevenson’s Dracula, back by popular demand and just in time for Halloween! The production was hailed by the New York Times as “a Dracula beyond Stoker’s darkest dreams.” This blockbuster show is set to the music of Franz Liszt, as arranged by John Lanchberry. It features exciting pyrotechnics, flying vampires, and a ghostly carriage that careens on-and-off stage. Dracula runs Oct. 20 – 28 at the Janet Quinney Lawson Capitol Theatre.

Directly following is Firebird, a triple-bill of three works that honor the scope and vison of founder Willam Christensen, running Nov. 3 – 11.

Opening the program is the revival of Christensen’s magical story of The Firebird to the iconic score by Igor Stravinsky. The ballet tells the tale of a prince who captures and then frees a magical bird, who in turn thanks the prince by saving him from attacking monsters and helps him find a beautiful princess.

Next is the world premiere of Ballet West Demi-Soloist Joshua Whitehead’s Fever Dream. Whitehead has choreographed and composed the music for this sophisticated and mesmerizing work, originally shown as a workshop production for the students of Ballet West Academy.

The program closes with George Balanchine’s joyous and unabashed celebration of Americana – Stars & Stripes. A huge cast of dancers present challenging classical dancing and intricate patterns to the upbeat and recognizable music of John Philip Souza (as arranged by Hershey Kay).

The Nutcracker returns Dec. 8 – 27. Nearly 80 years after Christensen first choreographed it, America’s first full Nutcracker is still delighting audiences of all ages. The timeless music of Tchaikovsky will be performed live by the Ballet West Orchestra. In 2022, more than 42,000 experienced this beloved production and most performances were sold out. Prior to the traditional Salt Lake City run of performances, Ballet West will take The Nutcracker back to the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. for seven performances, Nov. 22 – 25, and then to Ogden, Utah before hitting the Capitol Theatre stage in Salt Lake City from Dec. 8 – 27.

A must-see for any theater-goer, Swan Lake returns Feb. 9 – 17. The production is conceived and produced by Adam Sklute, after original choreography by Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov, with additional choreography by Ballet West Principal Rehearsal Director, Pamela Robinson-Harris, and the late Mark Goldweber. The story follows a forlorn prince, an evil wizard, and an enchanted maiden who can only become human by the light of the moon.

April 12 – 20, the company presents Love and War, a powerful triple-bill of groundbreaking and astonishing works. The program opens with the Utah Premiere of Blake Works I by renowned choreographer William Forsythe, who is recognized as one of the greatest living chorographers in the world. This sensual work, created on the Paris Opera Ballet in 2016, is set to the tuneful and moody songs of James Blake.

Next is the long-awaited Ballet West revival of Red Angels, choreographed by Ulysses Dove with music by Richard Einhorn. Four dancers and an electric violin, played by the original interpreter, Mary Rowell, one of only two people in the world to play this score, present a nonstop outpouring of energy and passion.

Finally, one of the world’s greatest ballet masterpieces, Kurt Jooss’s 1932 work The Green Table, returns to the Ballet West stage with a spellbinding score for two pianos by Frederick Cohen. In eight profoundly moving scenes, Jooss and Cohen depict the futility of war, its tragedy, and the redemptive power of humanity.

In addition to the mainstage season, the popular Family Classics Series returns with Beauty and the Beast, conceived and produced by Adam Sklute and choreographed by Ballet West Principal Rehearsal Director Pamela Robinson-Harris with Peggy Dolkas. Performed by Ballet West II and members of the Ballet West Academy, this production is designed for families and children looking for an introduction to ballet with a shortened run-time and narration. Performances run March 29 – 30 with a Spanish-only narration March 30 in the evening.

The Choreographic Festival returns June 5 – 8 at the Rose Wagner Theatre. This season’s festival celebrates Asian choreographers, artists, musicians, and companies. Along with presentations by two soon-to- be announced international guest companies, Adam Sklute has commissioned world premieres for Ballet West by Caili Quan, a dynamic new voice in contemporary ballet and dance, and emerging choreographer Zhongjing Fang, currently a soloist with American Ballet Theater. The strength of this program has also garnered national interest that takes the company back on tour to The Kennedy Center June 18 – 22, 2024.

“From the revivals of some of Ballet West’s most beloved presentations, to the creation of new, cutting-edge work, our 2023-2024 season is definitely the biggest and most ambitious season in Ballet West history!” adds Adam Sklute, “It is our gift to Utah, the world, and our grand art-form of ballet!”

Subscribers to the 2023-2024 Season will enjoy exclusive benefits, including free ticket exchanges, up to 40% off single ticket prices, priority seating, and first access to purchase additional tickets to The Nutcracker. Five-performance pages start at just $147.

Groups of 15 or more will have access to purchase tickets before single tickets go on sale Tuesday, September 5.

Heritage Club Members will have access to exclusive insider events including pre-performance Director’s Pointe talks, Intermission Receptions, In-Studio Rehearsals, and more.

Single tickets do not go on sale until September 5, so ballet fans are encouraged to subscribe now or renew their seasons subscriptions early to get the best available seats.

*Note: Media are invited to attend the exclusive, live event of the 60^th season announcement being held on March 1 from 5:30 P.M. – 6:30 P.M. at the Janet Quinney Lawson Capitol Theatre. Salt Lake County Mayor Jenny Wilson will be a special guest moderator during the event. Interview opportunities with Artistic Director Adam Sklute and Executive Director Michael Scolamiero will be available immediately following the event.