Seven Upcoming Productions; Subscription Tickets on Sale March 3
SALT LAKE CITY, UT — Ballet West announces its 2026-27 season, celebrating 20 years of Artistic Director Adam Sklute’s leadership. Seven productions, including Dracula, Don Quixote, Carmina Burana, Symphony in C, and several Utah and world premieres have been curated by Sklute to reflect Ballet West’s full range of artistry and excellence.
“I have chosen to celebrate my 20th anniversary with a season of audience favorites, renowned classics, and some unique contemporary gems that highlight the strength and diversity that have been the hallmark of Ballet West throughout my tenure.”
Subscription tickets go on sale March 3 and single tickets on sale Sept. 8 at BalletWest.org or 801-869-6920. The season is generously sponsored by Salt Lake Zoo, Arts & Parks and the George S. and Dolores Doré Eccles Foundation.
The season opens with the return of Ben Stevenson’s Dracula, Ballet West’s third revival of this thrilling show. With 50-plus dancers, breathtaking flying, and explosive special effects, it is a spectacular production filled with great dance and theater.
The Fall Program features three contemporary works: Elis, first created for Works from Within in 2025 by Ballet West Soloist Vinicius Lima. For this season, Lima expands this charming, playful romp to Bossa Nova music; the Utah Premiere of the moving elegy, Dancing on the Front Porch of Heaven, by Red Angels creator Ulysses Dove; and the Utah Premiere of Christopher Bruce’s hip and stylish Rooster, set to a fusion of Rolling Stones classics.
Ballet West’s iconic production of The Nutcracker returns, first staged in 1944 by founder Willam Christensen and now a designated Utah Living Historic Landmark.
In February, audiences will experience the return of Don Quixote, last seen on the Janet Quinney Lawson Capitol Theatre stage in 2011. Anna Marie Holmes’ vibrant staging, filled with Spanish flair, brilliant classical technique, and an all-male flamenco scene performed to nothing but stomping feet and clapping hands, is a comedic take on ballet.
“Don Quixote is bright, happy, joyous, and technically demanding,” said Sklute. “It is, from start to finish, a lively and delightful time.”
Ballet West’s Family Classics Series presents The Glass Slipper, an expanded staging of Pamela Robinson Harris’s Cinderella-inspired work performed by Ballet West II, Academy Trainees, and Students is for audiences of all ages.
The Spring Repertory includes George Balanchine’s Symphony in C, a dazzling display of neoclassical technique and sparkling footwork set to Geroge Bizet’s famous symphony, and the dynamic energy Nicola Fonte’s visceral Carmina Burana, where a full chorus suspended above the stage unleashes the power of Carl Orff’s score.
The season concludes with Works from Within II, Ballet West’s celebrated choreographic program, giving the company’s own artists a stage to create and present original new works.
“This season is a true reflection of everything we have built over my 20 years at Ballet West,” said Sklute. “We honor tradition, push creative boundaries, and deliver productions of the highest caliber for an anniversary season that is truly unforgettable.”
For tickets, visit BalletWest.org or call 801-869-6920. Season subscriptions offer discounts, priority seating, and exclusive events. Subscribers enjoy free exchanges, priority seating, up to 40% off tickets, and early Nutcracker access. Packages start at $218.
ABOUT BALLET WEST
Ballet West, led by Artistic Director Adam Sklute, has been celebrated for innovation and excellence since 1963. Based in Salt Lake City, it presents classical masterpieces, historic works like America’s First Nutcracker™, and bold new creations that push the art form forward. Through the Frederick Q. Lawson Ballet West Academy, Ballet West trains the next generation of ballet artists and audiences in classical technique. The company also extends its reach into the broader community through one of the largest outreach and education programs in the country.
