PRINCIPAL ARTISTS BECKANNE SISK & CHASE O’CONNELL PHOTO BY KATE TAYLOR FROM QUINCE AND MULBERRY STUDIOS
ANNUAL REPORT
We are proud to report on our 2019 fiscal year, a season marked by grand artistic achievements and broad engagement with diverse audiences on our stage and beyond. From extensive touring to groundbreaking collaborations, the consummate artistry of Ballet West continues to be luminous. Our five main-stage productions and Family Classics Series drew 62,000 ticket buyers and another 19,000 watched Ballet West at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts stage and the Joyce Theater. Both tours were prestigious invitations: presenting The Nutcracker to sold-out audiences at the nation’s art center in Washington, D.C. and re-staging Merce Cunningham’s Summerspace in New York City for the iconoclast’s centenary celebration. Another 110,000 students and community members were reached through our education and outreach programs, including innovative initiatives like Senior Steps, which teaches dance in senior centers, and I CAN DO, which nurtures respect, self-esteem, and movement to 5th graders across the state. These programs help Ballet West to develop deep and broad roots that enhance the quality of life in our cities, suburbs, and rural communities.
Intro
From behind the scenes, the Company also flourished: Ballet West strengthened the organization’s ties with key foundations and government agencies and advanced our dynamic brand locally and nationally with multiple stories in The Washington Post, The New York Times, and on National Public Radio. Through all our growth, Ballet West balanced its operating budget guided by a principled and fiscally responsible approach while expanding the company in compelling and dynamic directions. The following pages highlight the blossoming energy and powerful legacy we steward at Ballet West. As a member of our family, thank you for your investment in this vibrant organization. For those of you who may be new to Ballet West, we look forward to introducing you to the premier ballet company of the American west. Sincerely,
John Miller Chair, Board of Directors
Michael Scolamiero Executive Director
2 | BALLET WEST ANNUAL REPORT 18/19
Adam Sklute Artistic Director
ARTISTS OF BALLET WESTREPORT | PHOTO BY BEAU |PEARSON BALLET WEST ANNUAL 18/19 3
OCTOBER + NOVEMBER
A GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY Salt Lake Mayor Jackie Biskupski declared November 3rd “Bruce Caldwell Golden Anniversary Day” for his 50-year career so far at Ballet West. Bruce has “represented Salt Lake City with pride and confidence, making an impact on many other communities and dance organizations as he toured with the company around the globe several times,” said the Mayor. “Salt Lake City is extremely proud of this native son for advancing and elevating the arts in Utah.” The company paid special tribute at the opening of George Balanchine’s Jewels, where Bruce was surprised after the performance when dozens of former dancing partners each presented him with a rose.
TROLLEY ACADEMY
Ballet West Academy opened four new studios at Trolley Corners, which serve our youngest students in a historic and intimate new home for dance.
MAESTROAKS
Artistic Director Adam Sklute announced the promotion of Jared Oaks to Music Director. He is believed to be the youngest maestro of any major ballet company. The Music Director position is generously underwritten by the Barbara Barrington Jones Family Foundation and Kathie and Charles Horman.
“
“ ” Ballet West is a company that has a rich diversity of dancers in terms of backgrounds, body types, and countries of origin. At this particular moment, I find this celebration of difference an important message about the richness of cultural diversity, and the contributions that people from many nations make to our definitions of what it means to be American. Wrote Kate Mattingly for loveDANCEmore after seeing George Balanchine’s Jewels, performed by Ballet West. The triple bill, which presents three distinctly different styles, is a triumph for any company to endeavor. But it was particularly satisfying to have representatives from the Balanchine Trust describe just how much they enjoyed Ballet West’s production.
JEWELS!
ARTISTS OF BALLET WEST IN GEORGE BALANCHINE’S RUBIES © THE GEORGE BALANCHINE TRUST | PHOTO BY BEAU PEARSON
BALLET WEST ANNUAL REPORT 18/19 | 5
DECEMBER
#ENDYELLOWFACE
Adam Sklute is the first artistic director to sign the #EndYellowface pledge, which pushes ballet companies to adjust how they present the Chinese variation in The Nutcracker, and evaluate other Asian caricatures in ballet. The pledge garnered a feature story in The New York Times and an hourlong discussion on NPR’s nationally broadcasted program, 1A.
BACK AND FIRST CIRCLE: ARTISTS OF BALLET WEST. | PHOTO BY BEAU PEARSON THIRD CIRCLE: FIRST SOLOIST ALLISON DEBONA &AJAX | PHOTO BY KATE TAYLOR WASHINGTON MONUMENT PHOTO BY DAVID ILIFF. LICENSE: CC-BY-SA 3.0
CAPITOL REDUX
On the 40th anniversary of Ballet West’s move from Kingsbury Hall to the Janet Quinney Lawson Capitol Theatre, Salt Lake County announced it would close the theatre for six months so the façade could be renovated, and to give audiences more legroom and wider seats… our knees are grateful!
BABY STEPS
On December 13, after two days of labor, First Soloist Allison DeBona and Principal Artist Rex Tilton brought Ajax Tilton into the world! Now five months old, he is a regular presence at rehearsals and perfectly comfortable taking class strapped to Mom.
HONORING HEUVEL
David Heuvel, Ballet West Director of Costume Production, received Governor Gary Herbert’s prestigious Artist Award for Visual Arts. For five decades, Heuvel has been designing and building costumes, taking him to every corner of the globe. At Ballet West, he makes our artists shine. “If they touch the stage feeling comfortable and regal, I have done my job.” Congratulations, David, we are honored to have you here.
TOURING D.C.
We aren’t political, but we sure go to Washington, D.C. a lot. The company was honored to return to the Kennedy Center to present The Nutcracker. The Washington Post gushed that our performance was “sumptuous, a beautiful danced and gorgeously designed production.”
“BALLET WEST’S NUTCRACKER IS THE MOST CREATIVE, INTELLIGENT, AND MAGICAL PRODUCTION I HAVE EVER SEEN... THESE ARE TWO OF THE HAPPIEST HOURS YOU WILL SPEND THIS HOLIDAY SEASON.” --Cherilyn J. Lee, The Traveling Ballerina
BALLET WEST ANNUAL REPORT 18/19 | 7
JANUARY + FEBRUARY + MARCH
LIGHTS CAMERA ACTION!
Ballet West and BYUtv were thrilled to announce the filming of Willam Christensen’s The Nutcracker, to be broadcasted in December of 2019, along with a documentary of this historic production--75 years in the making. The filming was made possible, in part, through a generous grant from the George S. and Dolores Doré Eccles Foundation. BYUtv is a cable network with 50 million subscribers worldwide. This documentary is scheduled to air this holiday season.
PAS DE DEUX
Principal Artists Beckanne Sisk and Chase O’Connell broke the internet with their engagement announcement, leading to a flurry of local and national press and more than 200,000 views on Ballet West’s social media.
8 | BALLET WEST ANNUAL REPORT 18/19
RUUD RETIRES On February 23, Christopher Ruud took to the Capitol Theatre stage for the final time. After a distinguished 21-year career with Ballet West, the principal dancer sliced the air and stole our hearts in a brilliant performance as Prince Siegfried in Swan Lake.
UT
BC
While preparing for Swan Lake, half the company returned to British Columbia, Canada, to present Nicolo Fonte’s Fox on the Doorstep and África Guzmán’s Sweet and Bitter. Presenter Dance Victoria requested a return visit from Ballet West after a very successful 2015 tour.
LAUREN RUUD, CHRISTOPHER RUUD, & MARY WOOD | PHOTO BY BEAU PEARSON
BOLD NEW LOOK
LEFT, NUTCRACKER: PRINCIPAL ARTIST EMILY ADAMS | PHOTO BY BEAU PEARSON
Following more than a year of careful consideration, discussions with the Ballet West community, and artful refinement, Ballet West shared a new logo. Designer Alex Moya says he found inspiration in essential dancer tools: pointe shoes and stage lights.
FIRST SOLOIST KATLYN ADDISON & SOLOIST HADRIEL DINIZ PHOTO BY BEAU PEARSON
SYMPATICO WITH THE SYMPHONY
Ballet West II performed Christopher Sellars’ wildly exuberant Peter and the Wolf at Abravanel Hall with the Utah Symphony. The troupe had also traveled to Texas earlier in the month to perform The Sleeping Beauty, in an ongoing collaboration with Longview Ballet Theatre. ARTISTS OF BALLET WEST II PHOTO BY BEAU PEARSON
FRONT ROW SPECIAL EDITION | 9
APRIL
ONEGIN A Utah premiere, John Cranko’s Onegin swept into the Eccles Theater and delivered a grand and graceful drama. The story ballet also captured critics’ hearts, with the Deseret News saying it was “intricate, acrobatic, and jaw dropping.” loveDANCEmore raved, “dancers of Ballet West excel as both technicians and storytellers.” And Front Row Reviewers said, “Everything about this performance is impressive.”
10 | BALLET WEST ANNUAL REPORT 18/19
PRINCIPAL ARTISTS AROLYN WILLIAMS & REX TILTON | PHOTO BY BEAU PEARSON
In honor of what would have been the icon’s 100th birthday, The Joyce Theater invited Ballet West to present Summerspace at the Merce Cunningham centennial celebration.
“ BALLET WEST’S PERFORMANCE WAS WINNINGLY ALIVE, LIGHT-FOOTED, AND AIRBOURNE.”
THE JOYCE
—The Wall Street Journal
DEMI-SOLOIST GABRIELLE SALVATTO | PHOTO BY BEAU PEARSON
BALLET BEHIND BARRES
Forward Steps, a Ballet West outreach program taught in correctional facilities, completed a year-long program at the Timpanogos Women’s Facility. One participant wrote to instructor Shelly Cordova, “For many, memories of learning a new dance, being with people who make you laugh, washes away the bad memories--if even for an hour. Thank you.”
BALLET WEST ANNUAL REPORT 18/19 | 11
MAY
CHOREOGRAPHIC FESTIVAL ’19 SCOTTISH BALLET PRINCIPAL SOPHIE MARTIN & FIRST ARTIST RIMBAUD PATRON
ARTISTS OF BALLET WEST | PHOTO BY BEAU PEARSON
The first international company to present at Ballet West’s Choreographic Festival, the Scottish Ballet, charmed audiences with Sophie Laplane’s Sibilo. They were accompanied by renowned choreographer and Ballet Met artistic director Edwaard Liang’s kinetic and emotionally-driven Constant Light, which he cast on Ballet West dancers. Company dancers Emily Adams, Katlyn Addison, and Trevor Naumann also created new works for the third annual festival.
12 | BALLET WEST ANNUAL REPORT 18/19
FINANCIALS* 2018–2019 OPERATING REVENUE $14.1 MILLION 42% CONTRIBUTIONS
3%
3% 15% 25% 11%
15% 11% 9% 4% 3%
27%
27%
9%
25%
GOVERNMENT AGENCIES FOUNDATIONS
2017–2018 REVENUE $14.3 MILLION
INDIVIDUALS IN-KIND DONATIONS CORPORATIONS
ADMISSIONS & PERFORMANCE FEES ACADEMY INCOME
2% 4% 12%
28%
14%
3%
25%
RENTALS & MERCHANDISE
4%
3%
3%
17%
2%
3%
OTHER INCOME
2018–2019 OPERATING EXPENSES $13.9 MILLION 84% PROGRAMMING
5%
11%
37%
2%
9% 15%
21%
37% ARTISTIC 21% ACADEMY & EDUCATION 15% PRODUCTION 9% MARKETING 2% COSTUMING
11%
ADMINISTRATION
5%
FUNDRAISING
2017–2018 EXPENSES $14.4 MILLION
8%
4%
11% 9%
14%
22%
37%
*AUDITED
BALLET WEST ANNUAL REPORT 18/19 | 13
DONORS Following is a list of current Founders Circle donors and Heritage Club patrons; supporting corporations, foundations, and government agencies; Academy Scholarship Fund donors; and Artistic Impact Fund donors. For a full listing of all donors, please visit: BalletWest.org/Donor-Acknowledgments.
FOUNDER’S CIRCLE We thank our Founder’s Circle donors, each of whom has given significantly to the company throughout its history, either through collective annual giving or extraordinary, one-time gifts. B. W. Bastian Foundation Peggy Bergmann Val A. Browning Foundation George S. and Dolores Doré Eccles Foundation Marriner S. Eccles Foundation Huntsman Foundation Barbara Barrington Jones Emma Eccles Jones Foundation Frederick Q. Lawson Foundation Janet Quinney Lawson Foundation The Meldrum Foundation John and Marcia Price Family Foundation S.J. and Jessie E. Quinney Foundation Shari and David Quinney Rocky Mountain Power Foundation Beano Solomon James Lee Sorenson Family Foundation Wells Fargo
HERITAGE CLUB We thank our loyal Heritage Club patrons for their generous annual support. MR. C AND MRS. WALLACE $25,000+ Peggy Bergmann Judy Brady and Drew W. Browning John and Kristi Cumming Kathie and Charles Horman Paul and Cheryl Huntsman Barbara Barrington Jones Peter and Catherine Meldrum John and Andrea Miller John and Marcia Price Family Foundation Shari and David Quinney Theodore Schmidt Beano Solomon Krista and Jim Sorenson PRINCIPAL AND FIRST SOLOIST $10,000+ Vilija Avizonis and Gregory McComas Michael Black and Kimberly Strand Judy and Larry Brownstein DiFiore Family W. Hague & Sue J. Ellis Foundation
14 | BALLET WEST ANNUAL REPORT 18/19
Alan and Jeanne Hall Foundation Stephanie and Tim Harpst Cindy and Howard Hochhauser Jennifer Horne-Huntsman and Scott Huntsman Katharine W. Lamb Jennifer and Gideon Malherbe Rachèle McCarthey and Brock Van de Kamp Dan P. Miller David Parkinson and Leonardo Arantes Silveira The Paterson Center Madeleine and Harvey Plonsker Jeanne Potucek Erin and Bryan Riggsbee Mark and Melanie Robbins Jonathan and Liz Slager Barbara L. Tanner Sarah Eccles Taylor and Gary Taylor Roy and Lisa Vincent Brad and Linda Walton Julia S. Watkins Carole Wood and Darrell Hensleigh SOLOIST AND DEMI-SOLOIST $2,500+ Stephany Alexander Margaret Anderson Bonnie Jean Beesley Kathleen and Andy Blank The Brown Family Foundation Carol Browning, Céline & Nathan Browning, and Rete & Rikki Browning Carol Carter Roger and Kathryn Carter Carol T. Christ Cecile and Harold Christiansen Willard and Julie Dere Spencer F. and Cleone P. Eccles Family Foundation David and SandyLee Griswold John and Ilauna Gurr Marc and Mary Carole Harrison Gordon Irving James R. Kruse and Mary Jo Smith Attila Lenkey David and Naja Lockwood Paul and Melanie Lyon Santiago and Valeria Marti Angela Martindale and Michael Snow Thomas and Mary McCarthey Willis McCree and John Fromer Anthony and Jessica Mirabile
Scott and JoAnn Narus Anne and Ila Neeley Jill E. Perelson Richard and Lois Peterson Jeanie Pollack Richard and Nancy Potashner Brian and Janae Powell Irwin and Harriet Ross Chris and Ellen Rossi Margaret P. Sargent Jonathan and Amanda Schmieder Benjamin and Lael Selznick Adam Sklute and Christopher Renstrom John Sklute Sue and Jack Stahl Kristin and Tom Stockham Rick and Chris Veit Sue and Walker Wallace Susan Warshaw Beatryx Washington Marelynn and Edward Zipser CORPS DE BALLET $1,000+ Alta’s Rustler Lodge Patricia Andersen Stephen Anderson Bené Arnold Jordan Atkin Carol Baer Frances and Jerome Battle Clisto and Suzanne Beaty Gary Beers Vicki and Bill Bennion Ginny Bostrom J. I. Burkemper Rebecca Marriott Champion Carmen Chirinos Circle of Life Women’s Center Jim and Barbara Clark James M. and Sherise G. Clayton Drs. Joan L. and William J. Coles William and Melissa Connelly Meri Crandall - Realtor, Summit Sotheby’s International Realty Pascale De Rozario and Jonathan Crossett Diggity Dog Resort Earthology Landscape John Eckert Sissy Eichwald Deborah B. and Edward Felt
John and Joan Firmage Tracy Frankel Karen L. Freed Patti Eylar and Charlie Gardner David Keith Garside and Audrey Miner Marla M. Gault DeGauss Jon and Tami Hansen Sandra and David Haughey Julie Hopkins Hot Shot Sprinkler Repair & Landscape Larry and Tina Howard Robert and Dixie Huefner Scott and Heidi Ingham David and Linda Irvine David P. Heuvel and Johann Jacobs Marilyn and Chester Johnson G. Frank and Pamela Joklik John S. Karls Keefer Family Scott and Allison Kendell Jeanne M. Kimball Scott Kirkpatrick and Lydia Biegert Carole Klein and Brad Chesivoir The Kohlburn/Lecointre Family Carol and Guy Kroesche Katherine Probert Labrum Cynthia Lampropoulos and Dr. George Gourley Roxanne Christensen and Tony Lazzara Helle and Jon Le Rette Mary and Lindon Leader David E. and Helane B. Leta Kathy Lynch Dr. John and Colleen McCarter Nancy Melich and Lex Hemphill David and Colleen Merrill Jan Mitchell In Memory of Barbara C. Moreton Carolyn Nebeker Oren and Liz Nelson Karen Nichols Kirsten Novak and Mark Martinez Joanne Parrish Linda S. Pembroke Andrea and Don Peterson Katie Marie Pollard Lee Quinney Nancy Rapoport and Jeff Van Niel Suzanne and David Razor Barbara Snarr Reid Victor and Susan Rickman
Mark and Linda Scholl Robert and Nancy Schumacker Katherine Scott Laura Scott and Rodney Mena Aharon Shulimson and Julie Terry Beth and Randy Siebert Teresa Silcox Jeffrey and Andrea Silver Lou Ann Stevens Jennifer Strachan and Tom Biersbach Cindy and Blake Strong Cyndie Taylor Raymond Vismantas Amy Wadsworth and David Richardson Mark Weisbender Sue Wilkerson Jay and Alicia Wilson Harvey Woodyatt Kathryn Zwack and Brian Allison Anonymous (2)
CORPORATE, FOUNDATION, AND GOVERNMENT SUPPORT We thank the following community partners for their generous contributions. $100,000+ The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Foundation George S. and Dolores Doré Eccles Foundation The William Randolph Hearst Foundation Huntsman Foundation The Meldrum Foundation Salt Lake County Zoo, Arts & Parks (ZAP) Utah Department of Heritage & Arts $25,000+ B. W. Bastian Foundation BMW of Murray◊ Dominion Energy Marriner S. Eccles Foundation Florence J. Gillmor Foundation Holland & Hart LLP◊ InterWest Moving & Storage*◊ David Kelby Johnson Memorial Foundation Emma Eccles Jones Foundation Jones Waldo*◊ The Kahlert Foundation
Frederick Q. Lawson Foundation McCarthey Family Foundation O.C. Tanner Company◊ The Rea Charitable Trust Salt Lake County Community Services -Tourism, Recreation, Culture & Convention Salt Lake Regional Medical Center*◊ SEARCH Group Partners* The Shubert Foundation Simmons Family Foundation Sorenson Legacy Foundation Summit County Cultural RAP Tax Summit Sotheby’s International Realty◊ Utah Division of Arts & Museums Utah Office of Tourism Utah State Board of Education Professional Outreach Programs in the Schools Anonymous $10,000+ Altabank◊ Ancestry◊ Beaver Creek Foundation C. Comstock Clayton Foundation CompuNet, Inc.◊ Lawrence T. and Janet T. Dee Foundation Willard L. Eccles Foundation Eleve Dancewear* Goldman Sachs◊ Richard K. and Shirley S. Hemingway Foundation Hotel Monaco*◊ Intermountain Healthcare◊ JP Morgan and Chase Janet Quinney Lawson Foundation Merit Medical Systems, Inc.◊ National Endowment for the Arts S. J. and Jessie E. Quinney Foundation The Jerome Robbins Foundation Rocky Mountain Power Foundation Salt Lake Power Yoga* Stephen G. & Susan E. Denkers Family Foundation Virginia B. Toulmin Foundation U.S. Bank Foundation Visit Salt Lake◊ Wells Fargo
Dr. Jeremy Wimmer with Elite Chiropractic Center* $5,000+ AC Hotel Salt Lake City/Downtown*◊ Bambara Restaurant*◊ Blue Iguana*◊ R. Harold Burton Foundation Every Blooming Thing*◊ Freed of London Choo-San Goh & H. Robert Magee Foundation The William H. & Mattie Wattis Harris Foundation Lifetime Products Inc.◊ Myriad Genetics, Inc.◊ PrincePerelson and Associates◊ Promontory Foundation Ruth’s Chris Steak House*◊ Salt Lake City Arts Council Workers Compensation Fund◊ $1,000+ 3M Health Information Systems Dr. John R. Bennett/ENT Center of Utah* Mallory Berge, L.Ac.* City Center Psychology* Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage Community Foundation Katherine W. & Ezekiel R. Dumke, Jr. Foundation Durham Jones & Pinegar EDCUtah* Henry W. and Leslie M. Eskuche Charitable Foundation Holland & Hart LLP◊ InterWest Moving & Storage◊ London Belle Supper Club* ◊ Merrick Bank Parr Brown Gee & Loveless Pat’s Dancewear Snell & Wilmer Snow, Christensen & Martineau Foundation Allen Tran, MS, RD, CSSD, High Performance Dietitian* YMCA of Northern Utah
ARTISTIC IMPACT FUND DONORS
We thank the below donors for their contributions to the Ballet West Artistic Impact Fund. Each gift was made specifically in support of one of three initiatives: Commissioning New Works, Commissioning New Productions, or Sponsoring National and International Touring. Kathie and Charles Horman Barbara Barrington Jones Barbara Levy Kipper Visit Salt Lake
ACADEMY SCHOLARSHIP FUND DONORS
We thank those who have contributed to the Ballet West Academy Scholarship Fund, spanning all four Academy campuses, with generous donations of $1,000 and above.
Marie and Kevin Brown Barbara Barrington Jones Scott Kirkpatrick and Lydia Biegert Rod Livingston and Roger Livingston, Founders of R&R BBQ Susan and Chris Lockwood Jennifer and Gideon Malherbe Willis McCree and John Fromer Park City Community Foundation: The Solomon Fund Shari and David Quinney Braden and Heather Shupe Summit Sotheby’s International Realty The above list includes donations received as of October 31, 2019.
*Indicates donation made in-kind ◊ Indicates Corporate Council member
BALLET WEST ANNUAL REPORT 18/19 | 15