Ballet West Announces 2008-2009 Season

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NEW IS THE KEY WORD FOR

BALLET WEST'S 2008-09 SEASON

SALT LAKE CITY -- For Ballet West's 2008-09 season, Artistic Director Adam Sklute has chosen a season lineup of epic proportions. Four world premieres and six Company and Utah premieres make Ballet West's upcoming performance year one that is not to be missed.

A Utah premiere, Michael Smuin's Emmy-nominated ballet of William Shakespeare's The Tempest will open Ballet West's season in November. The magic continues with Utah's favorite holiday tradition -- The Nutcracker, which will run from Dec. 5-27 at the Capitol Theatre. Just in time for Valentine's Day, Ballet West presents a double Utah premiere with Stanton Welch's Madame Butterfly together with Mark Morris' exotic and pulsating Gong. In the spring, Ballet West celebrates the 100th anniversary of the company that brought together some of the greatest composers, artists, choreographers and librettists ever assembled with The Treasures of the Ballets Russes, a three-work production that features the Utah premiere of George Balanchine's The Prodigal Son. Ballet West's season concludes with Innovations, highlighting three original works created by Ballet West dancers, for Ballet West dancers.

Beginning with its 2008-09 season, Ballet West also offers the opportunity to purchase advance tickets to the Company's annual gala fundraiser on Saturday, November 1, 2008. Featuring a pre-performance social hour and a fast-paced, hour-long Ballet West performance, the annual gala is part of Ballet West's Platinum Plus Subscriber Package. All proceeds from the annual gala benefit Ballet West's educational and artistic programs.

Season subscriptions in a variety of ticket packages are available now, and prices range from $48 - $341. For more information, contact Ballet West's Subscriber Services Department at (801) 323-6920.

Program 1

William Shakespeare's The Tempest, November 7, 8 and 12-15, 2008

Music: Henry Purcell

Choreography: Michael Smuin

Dancers flying through the air, monsters, gods, goddesses and glorious dancing by the artists of Ballet West make the Utah premiere of the ballet version of William Shakespeare's The Tempest a truly wondrous production. With choreography by one of Utah's favorite sons, the late great Michael Smuin, and a commissioned score based on the music of Henry Purcell, this is a tale of magical beings and all-too-human humans entwined in a net of love, humor, conflict and reconciliation.

Program 2

The Nutcracker, December 5-27, 2008

Music: P.I. Tchaikovsky

Choreography: Willam Christensen

Ballet West rings in the holidays with Willam Christensen's beloved production of The Nutcracker. Set to Tchaikovsky's famous score, The Nutcracker features a brilliant blend of costumes, sets and choreography to create a magical storybook world that has enchanted Utah audiences for more than 50 years.

Program 3`

Madame Butterfly with Gong, February 13, 14 and 18-21, 2009

Madame Butterfly

Music: Giacomo Puccini

Choreography: Stanton Welch

Gong

Music: Colin McPhee (Tabuh-Tabuhan)

Choreography: Mark Morris

East meets West and drama meets dance as Ballet West premieres Madame Butterfly. Experience choreographer Stanton Welch's haunting account of love and betrayal, devotion and sacrifice, danced to Giacomo Puccini's immortal score. The program also features the Utah premiere of Mark Morris' exotic and pulsating Gong, with costumes by fashion designer Isaac Mizrahi. Ballet West becomes the third company in the world to perform this fascinating piece.

Program 4

The Treasures of the Ballets Russes, March 27, 28 and April 1-4, 2009

Les Biches

Music: Francis Poulenc

Choreography: Bronislava Nijinska

The Prodigal Son

Music: Sergei Prokofiev

Choreography: George Balanchine

The Polovetsian Dances

Music: Alexandre Borodin

Choreography: Michel Fokine

Ballet West celebrates the 100th anniversary of the company that brought together some of the greatest composers, artists, choreographers and librettists ever assembled -- the famed Ballets Russes. The Treasures of the Ballets Russes is an electrifying production of three works featuring the Utah premiere of George Balanchine's The Prodigal Son, the exciting and moving biblical parable is danced to the music of Sergei Prokofiev. This must-see program also includes the Ballet West premiere of Bronislava Nijinska's chic and funny look at the 1920's flapper set, Les Biches, set to a score by Francis Poulenc, as well as a revival of the ballet that "set Paris on fire" in 1909 -- the fabulous Polovetsian Dances from Alexandre Borodin's opera "Prince Igor".

Program 5

Innovations, May 14-16 and 21-23, 2009

The individual personalities of Ballet West artists will shine during Innovations, featuring original works created by Ballet West dancers, for Ballet West dancers. Presented at the Rose Wagner Theatre, the program also includes the Utah premiere of Ulysses Dove's fierce and fiery Red Angels accompanied live by electric violin, as well as a world premiere by internationally renowned choreographer Nicolo Fonte.

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