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]

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]

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, C.B.E., 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 February 2012 include:^[6]

Principal artists

Soloists

Demi-soloists

Artists

References

1. ^ ^{a b c} "About Us". Ballet West. http://www.balletwest.org/AboutUs. Retrieved February 25, 2012. 
2. ^ Willis, Cherie N.. "Ballet West". Utah History Encyclopedia. http://www.media.utah.edu/UHE/b/BALLET,WEST.html. Retrieved February 25, 2012. 
3. ^ "Ballet West - Ichrachan House - Taynuilt - Argyll - Scotland". http://www.balletwest.co.uk. Retrieved February 25, 2012. 
4. ^ "Ballet West Academy". Ballet West. http://www.balletwest.org/Academy. Retrieved February 25, 2012. 
5. ^ "Artistic Director". Ballet West. http://www.balletwest.org/AboutUs/ArtisticDirector. Retrieved February 25, 2012. 
6. ^ "The Artists". Ballet West. http://www.balletwest.org/AboutUs/Artists. Retrieved February 25, 2012. 

External links

• Official website

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