Ballet West

Ballet West is an American ballet company based in Salt Lake City, Utah. It was founded in 1963 as the Utah Civic Ballet by Willam F. Christensen, the company's first artistic director, and Glenn Walker Wallace, who served as its first president. Christensen had previously established the first ballet department in an American university at the University of Utah in 1951.[1]

Ballet West
General information
NameBallet West
Year founded1963
Founders
Websitewww.balletwest.org
Artistic staff
Artistic DirectorAdam Sklute
Other
Official schoolBallet West Academy
Formation

In 1968, the Federation of Rocky Mountain States chose the company to represent that group, and by extension, to represent the western United States. Due to that choice, the group's name was changed to Ballet West.[2] This is not to be confused with Ballet West in Taynuilt, Scotland.[3]

The Ballet West Academy is the official school of Ballet West and is located in Salt Lake City.[4]

Ballet West was featured in the reality TV series Breaking Pointe in the Summer of 2012 and 2013 aired on the CW Network, part of a BBC Production.

History of Ballet West

Ballet West was established in Salt Lake City in 1963. Willam F. Christensen was the company's first artistic director, co-founding the company together with Utah's “First Lady of the Arts” Glenn Walker Wallace. In 1951, Christensen had established the first ballet department in an American university at The University of Utah and with the tireless assistance of Mrs. Enid Cosgriff this program grew into the Utah Civic Ballet, Ballet West's first incarnation. But this was not the first ballet company Willam Christensen's founded. Along with his brothers Lew and Harold, Christensen made history by establishing the oldest ballet company in the western United States, the San Francisco Ballet. There he went on to create the first full-length American productions of Coppélia, Swan Lake, and The Nutcracker, which remains in Ballet West's repertoire to this day.

A 20th Century ballet pioneer, Christensen developed a distinctly American and theatrical repertoire for his company based on his early training in Utah and New York City as well as his years traversing the American Vaudeville circuit. He also built a strong connection to the works of George Balanchine. In 1975 Christensen invited the great American dancer Bruce Marks to join him as Ballet West's Co-Artistic Director. Marks became Artistic Director in 1978 when Christensen retired. Under Marks’ direction, the company presented its first full production of Swan Lake and it earned a reputation for developing emerging choreographers of the time. Also during this period Marks made history, along with his wife, the acclaimed Danish Ballerina, Toni Lander, by presenting the first American full-length production of Abdallah by renowned 19th Century Danish choreographer, August Bournonville. John Hart, CBE, former dancer, administrator, and Assistant Director of The Royal Ballet in England succeeded Marks as Artistic Director of Ballet West In 1985. Under his leadership, the company's repertoire was expanded to include more well-loved 19th Century classics such as The Sleeping Beauty. Hart further enriched the company's repertoire of ballets with the works of many early 20th Century masters, most notably the great English choreographer, Sir Frederick Ashton. From 1985 to 1996, Hart engaged San Francisco-based Val Caniparoli as Ballet West's resident choreographer. Dancer and choreographer Jonas Kåge served as Artistic Director from 1997 to 2006. During this time Kåge maintained Ballet West's repertoire of classics while revitalizing its profile with notable late 20th Century choreographers such as Christopher Bruce, Hans van Manen, Glen Tetley and William Forsythe.

Artistic directors

The founding artistic director, Willam Christensen, retired in 1978. He was succeeded by Bruce Marks, who had been co-artistic director since 1975. Starting in 1985, the company's third artistic director was John Hart, CBE, a former dancer, administrator, and assistant director of The Royal Ballet. From 1997 through 2006, the position belonged to Jonas Kåge, a dancer and choreographer.[1]

The company's fifth and current artist director is Adam Sklute, who has served in that capacity since 2007. Sklute was dancer, ballet master and associate director with The Joffrey Ballet.[1][5]

Dance company

Dancers with Ballet West as of June 2023 include: [6]

Principal Dancers

NameNationalityTrainingJoined Ballet WestPromoted to Principal
[7]Emily Adams United StatesSchool of American Ballet
Studio Maestro
Ballet Technique
Princeton Ballet
20072015
[8]Katlyn AddisonNational Ballet School of Canada, Quinte Ballet School of Canada, Pacific Northwest Ballet School, Boston ballet, and Houston Ballet Ben Stevenson Academy20102021
[9]Hadriel Dinz BrazilGuiomar Boaventura at the Vortice Escola de Dancas20152021
[10]Adrian Fry CanadaOmaha Theater Ballet School
School of American Ballet
Pacific Northwest Ballet School
20102017
[11]Jenna Rae Herrera United StatesShe trained under Cynthia Young, Lawrence Blake, and Randall Graham20102021
[12]Amy PotterNutmeg Conservatory for the Arts2012, 20212022
Jordan VeitPacific Northwest Ballet School20132022

First Soloists

NameNationalityTrainingJoined Ballet WestPromoted to First Soloist
[13]Tyler Gum United StatesBallet Society of Colorado Springs
Sangre de Cristo Ballet Theatre
20102018
[14]Chelsea KeeferBallet West Academy
University of Utah
20142022

Soloists

NameNationalityTrainingJoined Ballet WestPromoted to Soloist
[15]David Huffmire United StatesBallet West Academy20182022
[16]Brian WaldrepNorth Carolina School of the Arts2022N/A, Joined as Soloist

Demi-soloists

NameNationalityTrainingJoined Ballet WestPromoted to Demi-Soloist
[17]Dominic Ballard AustraliaAustralian Ballet School20172022
[18]Olivia Gusti United StatesBallet West Academy20162022
[19]Kazlyn Nielsen20142022
[20]Jake Preece CanadaGoh Ballet Academy
Pacific Northwest Ballet School
20192022
[21]Kristina Weimer United States20172022
[22]Joshua WhiteheadBallet West Academy20122016

Corps de Ballet

  • Jazz Khai Bynum
  • Lillian Casscells
  • Beau Chesivoir
  • Isabella Corridon
  • Amelia Dencker
  • Nicole Fanney
  • Robert Fowler
  • Connor Hammond
  • Jacob Hancock
  • Noel Jensen
  • Vinicius Lima
  • Joseph Lynch
  • Amber Miller
  • Rylee Ann Rogers
  • Anisa Sinteral
  • Tatiana Stevenson
  • Victoria Vassos
  • Loren Walton
  • Claire Wilson

Ballet West II, Second Company Artists

  • Stella Birkinshaw
  • Micheal Bushman
  • Kye Cooley
  • Anderson Duhan
  • Maren Florence
  • Luca Freudenberg
  • Victor Galeana
  • Elijah Hartley
  • Schuyler Lian
  • William Lynch
  • Jonas Malinka-Thompson
  • Lexi McCloud
  • Julia Outmesguine
  • Kennedy Sheriff
  • Rebecca Trockel
  • Kaeli Ware

Notable Dancers

Name Rank Date Joined Date Left
Beckanne Sisk Principal 2011 2022
Chase O'Connell Principal 2013 2022
Allison Debona First Soloist 2007 2022
Christopher Sellers Principal 2006 2019
Christopher Ruud Principal 1998 2019
Rex Tilton Principal 2008 2022
Kathrine Lawrence Principal 2004 2021
Elizabeth Weldon Soloist 2009 2018
Jeff Rogers Principal 1980 2000
Max Hall BW II 2002 2010
Silver Barkes Corps de Ballet 2004 2012
Jane Wood Principal 1981 2001

References

  1. "About Us". Ballet West. Archived from the original on February 25, 2012. Retrieved February 25, 2012.
  2. Willis, Cherie N. (1994), Powell, Allan Kent (ed.), "Ballet West", Utah History Encyclopedia, Salt Lake City, Utah: University of Utah Press, ISBN 0874804256, OCLC 30473917, archived from the original on 2017-01-13, retrieved 2013-10-30
  3. "Ballet West - Ichrachan House - Taynuilt - Argyll - Scotland". Archived from the original on March 4, 2012. Retrieved February 25, 2012.
  4. "Ballet West Academy". Ballet West. Retrieved February 25, 2012.
  5. "Artistic Director". Ballet West. Archived from the original on February 24, 2012. Retrieved February 25, 2012.
  6. "Dancers : Ballet West". balletwest.org. Retrieved 2022-11-08.
  7. "Emily Adams : Ballet West". balletwest.org. Retrieved 2022-11-08.
  8. "Katlyn Addison : Ballet West". balletwest.org. Retrieved 2022-11-08.
  9. "Hadriel Diniz : Ballet West". balletwest.org. Retrieved 2022-11-08.
  10. "Adrian Fry : Ballet West". balletwest.org. Retrieved 2022-11-08.
  11. "Jenna Rae Herrera : Ballet West". balletwest.org. Retrieved 2022-11-08.
  12. "Amy Potter : Ballet West". balletwest.org. Retrieved 2022-11-08.
  13. "Tyler Gum : Ballet West". balletwest.org. Retrieved 2022-11-08.
  14. "Chelsea Keefer : Ballet West". balletwest.org. Retrieved 2022-11-08.
  15. "David Huffmire : Ballet West". balletwest.org. Retrieved 2022-11-08.
  16. "Brian Waldrep : Ballet West". balletwest.org. Retrieved 2022-11-08.
  17. "Dominic Ballard : Ballet West". balletwest.org. Retrieved 2022-11-08.
  18. "Olivia Gusti : Ballet West". balletwest.org. Retrieved 2022-11-08.
  19. "Kazlyn Nielsen : Ballet West". balletwest.org. Retrieved 2022-11-08.
  20. "Jake Preece : Ballet West". balletwest.org. Retrieved 2022-11-08.
  21. "Kristina Weimer : Ballet West". balletwest.org. Retrieved 2022-11-08.
  22. "Joshua Whitehead : Ballet West". balletwest.org. Retrieved 2023-06-01.
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