Artists of Ballet West for SERENADE – Photo by Beau Pearson
Following the celebration of Ballet West’s 60th anniversary with record-breaking attendance for Dracula, The Nutcracker, and Swan Lake, comes Ballet West’s exciting 2024/25 season. The Company announcement features the 80th anniversary of America’s first Nutcracker, four breathtaking Utah premieres and the triumphant return of Cinderella, in addition to tours in Ogden and Park City.
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, Salt Lake Zoo, Arts & Park, and Intermountain Health, the Official Health Partner of Ballet West.
“This is a season of phenomenal music, showcasing some of the most vibrant and diverse programming Ballet West has ever had, featuring the brilliant work of some of the world’s most sought choreographers,” said Ballet West Artistic Director Adam Sklute. “From the intense theatricality of Jekyll & Hyde to the glorious magic of Cinderella, the unique visions of renowned choreographers in our Pictures at an Exhibition program and the explosive dynamics of The Rite of Spring. We really are offering something for everyone.”
Season after season the Ballet West Orchestra provides live music, under the direction of Music Director Jared Oaks. The 2024/25 season features music from Górecki, Mussorgsky, Prokofiev, Stravinsky, Tchaikovsky, and others.
The season opens with the Utah premiere of Jekyll & Hyde from Oct. 25 – Nov. 2, an edgy adult psychological thriller based on the 19th-century story by Robert Louis Stevenson. Following the smash success of last year’s Dracula, this horror classic arrives just in time for Halloween as Val Caniparoli’s dramatic and intense new full-length ballet explores the dark side of the human psyche.
Directly following is Pictures at an Exhibition, a trio of ballets featuring George Balanchine’s heart-melting Serenade, two major Utah premieres; Alexei Ratmansky’s intimate suite of dances to Modest Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition, and Tony-Award winning choreographer Christopher Wheeldon’s Vivaldi-inspired Within the Golden Hour, running Nov. 8 – 16.
The Nutcracker returns Dec. 6 – 28, celebrating 80 years of America’s first Nutcracker. Ballet West’s holiday classic by founder Willam Christensen remains just a fresh and joyous as its premiere in 1944. In 2023, more than 50,000 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 to Ogden, Utah Nov. 29 – 30.
Full of comedy, romance, and magic is the return of Cinderella Feb. 7 – 15. Sir Frederick Ashton’s world-renowned production is a lavish and extravagant telling of the classic fairytale, with comedic twists and turns. This production is a treat for the entire family featuring new sets and costumes from London’s Royal Ballet, never before seen in Utah,
April 4 – 12, the company presents The Rite of Spring, an evening of music by Stravinsky. From the elegant purity of Balanchine’s 1928 ballet of a young God in Apollo, to the Utah premiere of Jiří Kylián’s emotional Symphony of Psalms, which takes us on a spiritual journey with a full chorus of singers and orchestra, to a primal exploration of life, death, and rebirth in the popular return of Nicolo Fonte’s The Rite of Spring. Explore Stravinsky’s extraordinary range of evocative music that breathes life into captivating dance narratives.
In addition to the mainstage season, the popular Family Classics Series returns with Aladdin, 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 Frederick Quinney Lawson 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 28 – 29 with a Spanish-only narration evening performance on March 29.
The program debut of Works from Within arrives May 14 – 17 at the Rose Wagner Theatre with an exclusive showcase of world premieres with Ballet West dancers as both choreographers and performers, unveiling innovation in never-before-seen creations by Ballet West Artists for Ballet West Artists.
