Helene Posted March 4, 2023 Share Posted March 4, 2023 The press release for the 2023-24 season: 60th Anniversary Season BALLET WEST ANNOUNCES 23/24 SEASONMILESTONE SEASON WITH AUDIENCE FAVORITES, WORKS BY FOUNDER WILLAM CHRISTENSEN, COMPANY PREMIERES, TOURS TO WASHINGTON D.C. AND CHICAGO, AND THE RETURN OF THE CHOREOGRAPHIC FESTIVALFIVE-BALLET PACKAGES START AT JUST $147 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 60th 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 60th 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. Contact Ballet West at 801-869-6920 or visit BalletWest.org. DRACULA Oct. 20 - 28 Choreography: Ben Stevenson Music: Franz Liszt (as arranged by John Lanchbury) Lighting Design: Tony Tucci, adapted from original designs by Tim Hunter Lighting Recreation: Jim French Costume Design: Judanna Lynn Scenic Design: Thomas Boyd World Premiere: March 1997, Houston Ballet, The Brown Theater at The Wortham Center, Houston, Texas Utah Premiere: 2011 Recommended for ages 10 and up. FIREBIRDNov. 3 - 11 The Firebird Choreography: Willam Christensen Music: Igor Stravinsky Scenic and Costume Design: Ronald Crosby Costume Design: David Heuvel Lighting: James Larsen Masks: Logan Long World Premiere: October 25, 1967, Ballet West, Kingsbury Hall, Salt Lake City Fever Dream Choreography and Musical Composition: Joshua WhiteheadUtah Premiere: November 2023 Stars and Stripes Choreography: George BalanchineMusic: John Philip Souza (as arranged by Hershey Kay)Costumes: KarinskaOriginal Lighting: Ronald BatesLighting: James LarsenWorld Premier: January 17, 1958, New York City Ballet, City Center of Music and Drama, New YorkUtah Premier: April 9, 2010 Recommended for ages 10 and up. THE NUTCRACKER Dec. 8 - 26 Choreography: Willam Christensen Music: Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky Scenic Design: John Wayne Cook Additional Scenic Design: Dick and Belinda Bird Costume Design: David Heuvel World Premiere: 1944, War Memorial Opera House, San Francisco, California Utah Premiere: December 27, 1955, Kingsbury Hall Recommended for ages 5 and up. SWAN LAKE Feb. 9 – 17 Choreography: Conceived and Produced by Adam Sklute, after original choreography by Marius Petipa and Lev IvanovMusic: Pyotr Ilyich TchaikovskyAdditional Choreography: Mark Goldweber and Pamela Robinson HarrisSets and Costumes: Peter CazaletLighting: Jim FrenchWorld Premier: March 4, 1877, Russian Imperial Ballet at the Bolshoi Theatre, MoscowUtah Premier: Feb. 2, 1982 LOVE AND WAR April 12 - 20 Blake Works IChoreography: William Forsythe Music: James Blake Costumes: William Forsythe and Dorothee Merg Lighting Recreated by: Brandon Baker World Premier: July 4, 2016 at the Palais Garnier in Paris, France Utah Premier: April 2024 Red Angels Choreography: Ulysses Dove Music: Richard Einhorn Lighting: Mark Stanley Lighting Recreation: Brandon Baker World Premiere: May 19, 1994, New York City Ballet, New York State TheaterUtah Premiere: April 11, 2009, George S. and Dolores Doré Eccles Center for the Performing Arts, Park City, Utah The Green Table Choreography: Kurt Jooss Music: Frederick Cohen Costume Design: Hein Heckroth Masks and Lighting Design: Hermann Markard Lighting: Kevin Dreyer World Premiere: July 3, 1932, Choreographic Festival in Paris, France Utah Premiere: March 2017 Recommended for ages 10 and up. BEAUTY AND THE BEAST March 29 - 30 FAMILY CLASSICS SERIES: Performed by Ballet West II & Frederick Quinney Lawson Ballet West Academy Students. Spanish-only narration on March 30 at 7 p.m. Production: Adam Sklute Choreography: Pamela Robinson-Harris and Peggy Dolkas Music: Alexander Glazunov and Nikolai TcherepninScenic Design: John Wayne CookCostume Design: David Heuvel Lighting Design: James K. Larsen Utah Premiere: 2016 Choreographic Festival VI: ASIAN VOICES Choreographers: Caili Quan and Zhongjing Fang International Guest Companies: Soon to be announced Link to comment
YouOverThere Posted November 21, 2023 Share Posted November 21, 2023 Ballet West's The Nutcracker performances at the Kennedy Center are essentially sold out. Other than a few box seats (some of which are currently designated for wheelchair patrons), there is only a single ticket left (for Saturday evening). Link to comment
YouOverThere Posted November 22, 2023 Share Posted November 22, 2023 23 hours ago, YouOverThere said: Ballet West's The Nutcracker performances at the Kennedy Center are essentially sold out. Other than a few box seats (some of which are currently designated for wheelchair patrons), there is only a single ticket left (for Saturday evening). Just to make me a liar, the Kennedy Center released 8 seats in the rear of the orchestra today for each performance. A few of these are still available. Link to comment
Ballet Lover Posted February 13 Share Posted February 13 https://utahartsreview.com/2024/02/swan-lake-takes-flight-in-ballet-wests-elegant-production/ review of Ballet West's current run of Swan Lake. Link to comment
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