The Ballet West 2023-2024 season celebrates the company’s 60th anniversary with a focus on the creative contributions of its founder Willam Christensen.
This landmark year features three full-length ballets, three world premieres, a television broadcast, and the fine accompaniment of he Ballet West Orchestra, led by Ballet West Music Director Jared Oaks.
Ballet West 2023-2024 Season Schedule
Dracula | October 20-28, 2023
Janet Quinney Lawson Capitol Theatre
- Dracula by Ben Stevenson
This production of Dracula 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.
Firebird | November 3-11, 2023
Janet Quinney Lawson Capitol Theatre
- Firebird by Willam Christensen
- Fever Dream by Joshua Whitehead
- Stars & Stripes by George Balanchine
The Firebird, set to the iconic score by Igor Stravinsky,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.
Ballet West Demi-Soloist Joshua Whitehead not only choreographed his world premiere Fever Dream but also composed the music for it.
George Balanchine’s joyous and unabashed celebration of Americana – Stars & Stripes – features a huge cast of dancers presenting challenging classical dancing and intricate patterns to the upbeat and recognizable music of John Philip Souza (as arranged by Hershey Kay).
The Nutcracker | December 8-27, 2023
Janet Quinney Lawson Capitol Theatre
- The Nutcracker by Willam Christensen
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.
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 (read our 2018 review of Ballet West’s performance of The Nutcracker in DC), and then to Ogden, Utah before hitting the Capitol Theatre stage in Salt Lake City from Dec. 8 – 27.
Swan Lake | February 9-17, 2024
Janet Quinney Lawson Capitol Theatre
- Swan Lake by Adam Sklute, Pamela Robinson-Harris, and Mark Goldweber, after original choreography by Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov
This production of Swan Lake 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.
Beauty and the Beast | March 29-30, 2024
Janet Quinney Lawson Capitol Theatre
- Beauty and the Beast by Adam Sklute, Pamela Robinson-Harris, and Peggy Dolkas
This production of Beauty and the Beast is 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.
Love and War | April 12-20, 2024
Janet Quinney Lawson Capitol Theatre
- Blake Works I by William Forsythe
- Red Angels by Ulysses Dove
- The Green Table by Kurt Joss
The triple bill 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.
Choreographic Festival | June 5-8, 2024
Rose Wagner Theatre
- World Premiere by Caili Quan
- World Premiere by Zhongjing Fang
- TBA
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 Theatre.
Featured Photo for the Ballet West 2023-2024 Season of Ballet West dancers from 1963-2023. Mosaic by Beau Pearson.
