Ballet West was established in Salt Lake City in 1963. Willam F. Christensen was the company’s first artistic director, co-founding the company together with Utah’s “First Lady of the Arts” Glenn Walker Wallace. In 1951, Christensen had established the first ballet department in an American university at The University of Utah and with the tireless assistance of Mrs. Enid Cosgriff this program grew into the Utah Civic Ballet, Ballet West’s first incarnation. But this was not the first ballet company Willam Christensen’s founded. Along with his brothers Lew and Harold, Christensen made history by establishing the oldest ballet company in the western United States, the San Francisco Ballet. There he went on to create the first full-length American productions of Coppélia, Swan Lake, and his evergreen production of The Nutcracker, which remains in Ballet West’s repertoire to this day.
Since 2007, Artistic Director Adam Sklute, former dancer, Ballet Master and Associate Director of The Joffrey Ballet has further energized and expanded Ballet West’s remarkable repertoire with works by the most renowned choreographers of today such as Ulysses Dove, Jiri Kylian, Mark Morris, Twyla Tharp, and Stanton Welch. Sklute has also introduced the elegant historical masterpieces from the great Ballets Russes of the early 20th Century and continues to preserve Ballet West’s classical legacy. Sklute has further strengthened Ballet West’s heritage by introducing new creations by local, national and international choreographers.
For 50 years, Willam Christensen and Ballet West have developed and influenced innumerable great artists in the ballet world. Some notable figures include Bart Cook, Finis Jhung, Jay Jolley, Victoria Morgan, Tomm Ruud, Michael Smuin, Richard Tanner, and Kent Stowell.
With this eclectic and ever expanding outlook, Ballet West is truly an American pioneer in the world of dance.
Company Details
- Employees
- 193
- Founded
- -
- Address
- 52 W 200 S | Salt Lake City, Ut 84101, Salt Lake City,utah 84101,united States
- Phone
- 1 801-869-6900
- Industry
- Performing Arts
- NAICS
-
Performing Arts Companies
- Website
- balletwest.org
- Keywords
- Ballet, Ballet Academy, Education, Outreach.
- HQ
- Salt Lake City, Utah
Ballet West Questions
Ballet West's helpline number is 1 801-869-6900
Ballet West's website is balletwest.org
Ballet West's LinkedIn profile is https://www.linkedin.com/company/ballet-west
Ballet West has
193 employees.
View email and phone details for 193
employees at Ballet West.
Ballet West's industry is
Performing Arts
Ballet West's top competitors are
The Joffrey Ballet,
Ballet Hispánico,
Ballet Arizona,
New York City Ballet,
Philadelphia Ballet,
Boston Ballet,
Atlanta Ballet,
American Ballet Theatre,
Pacific Northwest Ballet,
San Francisco Ballet.
Ballet West's categories are Performing Arts
Ballet West's founding year is 1963
