TCDC

Also Houston Ballet's Principal Sarah Webb has agreed to join Ballet West next season as a guest principal for 10 weeks. According to the Salt Lake Tribune, Mrs. Webb will be performing in the annual Gala and The Tempest. Possibly a sign of the future?

I discovered recently Artistic Director Adam Sklute has handed out numerous promotions to dancers at Ballet West. After the closing night of Ballet West's Mixed Rep. '9 Sinatras' Adam Sklute had all the dancers on stage for the announcements. I apologize if any of the information here is incorrect but this is what I've jotted down. Promoted to Principal - Michael Bearden Promoted to Soloist - Kate Crews Promoted to Soloist - Jason Linsley Promoted to Demi-Soloist - Victoria Lock Promoted to Demi-Soloist - Jacqueline Straughan Promoted to Demi-Soloist - Jason Chinea Promoted to Demi-Soloist - Chris Sellars Promoted to 2nd Year Apprentice From BWII - Aidan Diskin Dancers leaving the company are Edward McPherson, Jeff Herbig & Nicholas Smith. I believe Nick Scott & Steven Davis have also retired. Ballet West has also hired Principal Dancer Romi Beppu from Boston Ballet.

Has anybody had a chance to see Ballet West perform Ben Stevenson's 'Cinderella'? I moved to Salt Lake City recently and have had the wonderful pleasure of seeing New Artistic Director Adam Sklute's company perform The Three Musketeers and Nutcracker. This company I notice is not written about commonly however I see great change coming with Sklute. His enthusiasm and pre-performance speeches really set a tone of what to expect for the audiences. This company has some bright young stars with so much talent spread throughout the corps. I made a few trips out to Salt Lake during the Jonas Kage era and from the limited knowledge I have on it, the company is experiencing quite the change currently. I've even heard the rumor of a few dancers being let go after this season. (anybody have any creditable information on this?) I now have season tickets and will be attending every rep from this point on, however I am looking forward to reviews possibly on their most recent performance of Cinderella. I see a bright future in Michael Bearden (a wonderful prince like body with such calm line and technique), Katherine Lawrence (clearly a beautiful soloist with such strong technique), Jason Chinea (never ending turns and a stage presence that steals the hearts of everybody in the audience), Christopher Sellars (energy anybody would die to have and such a passion for jumps), and Christiana Bennett (my personal favorite. such an amazingly beautiful dancer with legs that never end. Her performances intrigue tremendously and I believe she is married to fellow Principal Dancer Chris Ruud.) I very much enjoy this company. I look forward to more performances to come.