PRINCIPAL ARTISTS BECKANNE SISK & CHASE O’CONNELL PHOTO BY KATE TAYLOR FROM QUINCE AND MULBERRY STUDIOS
FRONT ROW 2019 SPECIAL EDITION
YEAR IN REVIEW
GREAT BALLET IS THE STUDY Intro OF THE HUMAN CONDITION. It is the examination of love, of sorrow, of jealousy, and of joy, and all emotions we have in our hearts. From the magnificence of Jewels and unbridled optimism of The Nutcracker to the sublime sadness and sacrifice that is the heart of Swan Lake, the 55th season took us on a journey through the range of human emotions. There was also the Ballet West premiere of Onegin that showed the depths of human foolishness: betrayal, envy, and spite. And the season finale, our Choreographic Festival including the hilarity and curiosity of Sibilo performed by our guest company The Scottish Ballet, as well as three works created by our company members showing us tension, longing, angst and love— and Edwaard Liang’s new creation, Constant Light, which examined consciousness itself. At its best, ballet is a mirror of ourselves. It is our honor to produce an art form that entertains while examining our humanity. We hope in this exploration we can also nourish, strengthen, and heal the soul. Sincerely,
Adam Sklute Artistic Director
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Michael Scolamiero Executive Director
ARTISTSFRONT OF BALLET | PHOTOEDITION BY BEAU PEARSON ROWWEST SPECIAL |3
OCTOBER + NOVEMBER
A GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY Salt Lake Mayor Jackie Biskupski declared November 3rd “Bruce Caldwell Golden Anniversary Day” for his 50-year career 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 he was surprised after the performance when dozens of former dancing partners presented him 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.
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“ ” 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, as performed by Ballet West. The triple bill, which presents three distinctly different styles is a triumph for and company to endeavor. But, it was particularly satisfying to have repetitors 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 GEROGE BALANCHINE TRUST | PHOTO BY BEAU PEARSON
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DECEMBER
#ENDYELLOWFACE
Artistic Director Adam Sklute is the first 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 push garnered a feature story in The New York Times, and an hour long discussion on NPR’s nationally broadcasted 1A.
BACK AND FIRST CIRCLE: ARTISTS OF BALLET WEST. | PHOTO BY BEAU PEARSON THIRD CIRCLE: FIRST SOLOIST ADDISON 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 that 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 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 returned to The Kennedy Center to present The Nutcracker. The Washington Post gushed that our production is “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
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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 60,000,000 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.
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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.
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BC
While preparing for Swan Lake, half the company returned to British Columbia, Canada to present Nicolo Fonte’s Fox on the Doorstep and Africa Guzman’s Sweet and Bitter. Presenters 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
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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.” Love Dance More raved, “dancers of Ballet West excel as both technicians and storytellers.” And, Front Row Reviewers said, “Everything about this performance is impressive.”
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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.”
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MAY
CHOREOGRAPHIC FESTIVAL ’19 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’s 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.
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SCOTTISH BALLET PRINCIPAL SOPHIE MARTIN & FIRST ARTIST RIMBAUD PATRON
DONORS Each issue of Front Row features a list of current Founder’s Circle donors and Heritage Club patrons; corporate, foundation, and government supporters; new Members ($75 and above) that have joined since our last publication; 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, onetime gifts. B. W. Bastian Foundation Peggy Bergmann Val A. Browning Foundation DiFiore Family 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 Shari and David Quinney S. J. and Jessie E. Quinney Foundation Rocky Mountain Power Foundation Beano Solomon James Lee Sorenson Family Foundation Wells Fargo
ARTISTS OF BALLET WEST | PHOTO BY BEAU PEARSON
HERITAGE CLUB 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 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 Alan and Jeanne Hall Foundation
Stephanie and Tim Harpst Katharine W. Lamb Jennifer and Gideon Malherbe Santiago and Valeria Marti Rachèle McCarthey and Brock Van de Kamp Dan P. Miller John and Andrea Miller David Parkinson and Leonardo Arantes Silveira The Paterson Center Madeleine and Harvey Plonsker Jeanne Potucek Erin and Bryan Riggsbee Jonathan and Liz Slager Barbara L. Tanner Sarah Eccles and Gary Taylor Roy and Lisa Vincent Brad and Linda Walton Julia S. Watkins Carole Wood and Darrell Hensleigh Anonymous 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 Alexis Carr Carol T. Christ Cecile and Harold Christiansen Willard and Julie Dere Spencer F. and Cleone P. Eccles Family Foundation John and Ilauna Gurr Marc and Mary Carole Harrison Cindy and Howard Hochhauser Jennifer S. Horne Scott Huntsman Gordon Irving James R. Kruse and Mary Jo Smith Cynthia Lampropoulos and Dr. George Gourley Attila Lenkey David and Naja Lockwood Paul and Melanie Lyon Angela Martindale and Michael Snow Thomas and Mary McCarthey Willis McCree and John Fromer Anthony and Jessica Mirabile Edward B. and Barbara C. Moreton Scott and JoAnn Narus Anne and Ila Neeley
Richard and Lois Peterson Jeanie Pollack Richard and Nancy Potashner Brian and Janae Powell Mark and Melanie Robbins Ellen and Chris Rossi Margaret P. Sargent Jonathan and Amanda Schmieder Benjamin and Lael Selznick Shiebler Family Foundation Braden and Heather Shupe Adam Sklute and Christopher Renstrom John Sklute George H. Speciale Sue and Jack Stahl Kristin and Tom Stockham Rick and Chris Veit Sue and Walker Wallace Susan Warshaw Beatryx Washington Jacquelyn Wentz Marelynn and Edward Zipser CORPS DE BALLET $1,000+ Eric Ahlstrom 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 Alene Bentley Sharon and Michael Bertelsen Julie and Don Bigelow Anita Blundell Ginny Bostrom Robert Chamberlain Rebecca Marriott Champion Carmen Chirinos Jim and Barbara Clark James M. and Sherise G. Clayton Drs. Joan L. and William J. Coles William and Melissa Connelly Meri Crandall Pascale De Rozario and Jonathan Crossett 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 Ann and Rick Gold David and SandyLee Griswold Jon and Tami Hansen Sandra and David Haughey Connie C. Holbrook
Julie Hopkins Daniel Horns and Renee Zollinger 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 Howard A. and Lou Ann B. Jorgensen John S. Karls Jeanne M. Kimball Scott Kirkpatrick The Kohlburn/Lecointre Family Carol and Guy Kroesche Katherine Probert Labrum Roxanne Christensen and Tony Lazzara Helle and Jon Le Rette Bruce and Sheryl Lefavi David E. and Helane B. Leta Kathy Lynch Dr. John and Colleen McCarter Nancy Melich and Lex Hemphill David and Colleen Merrill Sheri P. and Ted Morgan Carolyn Nebeker Oren and Liz Nelson Karen Nichols Kirsten Novak and Mark Martinez ONTOUR Pictures LLC Joanne Parrish Linda S. Pembroke Andrea and Don Peterson Troy and Helena Piantes Kyle and Brenda Powell 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 Lou Ann Stevens Jennifer Strachan and Tom Biersbach Cyndie Taylor Raymond Vismantas Amy Wadsworth and David Richardson Mark Weisbender Sue Wilkerson Mr. & Mrs. Jay Edward Wilson Mary Bird and Lance Wood Kathryn Zwack and Brian Allison Anonymous (2) The above list includes individual donations received between May 1, 2018, and May 13, 2019.
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SAVE THE DATE!
JOIN BALLET WEST IN NYC
SEP 27–29 2019
Explore dance through unforgettable art, performance, and custom experiences in a three-day VIP donor tour in New York City. The trip includes tickets to a prestigious lecture series with a presentation on Ballet West’s upcoming program Balanchine’s Ballets Russes. Details announced July 1, 2019. Please contact patron services at 801-869-6920 for more information.
CORPORATE, FOUNDATION, AND GOVERNMENT SUPPORT $100,000+ 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 State Board of Education Professional Outreach Programs in the Schools (POPS) $25,000+ Ballard Spahr LLP*◊ B. W. Bastian Foundation BMW of Murray◊ Dominion Energy Marriner S. Eccles Foundation Florence J. Gillmor Foundation Intermountain Healthcare IOXO*◊ David Kelby Johnson Memorial Foundation Emma Eccles Jones Foundation Jones Waldo*◊ The Kahlert Foundation Frederick Q. Lawson Foundation Mergenthaler Transfer & Storage* O.C. Tanner◊ The Rea Charitable Trust
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Salt Lake Regional Medical Center*◊ SEARCH Group Partners* The Shubert Foundation Simmons Family Foundation Sorenson Legacy Foundation Summit Sotheby’s International Realty Virginia B. Toulmin Foundation Utah Division of Arts and Museums $10,000+ Bank of American Fork◊ Beaver Creek Foundation The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Foundation C. Comstock Clayton Foundation CompuNet, Inc.◊ Lawrence T. and Janet T. Dee Foundation Eleve Dancewear* Goldman Sachs◊ Richard K. and Shirley S. Hemingway Foundation 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 City Arts Council Salt Lake Power Yoga* Summit County Cultural RAP Tax U.S. Bank Foundation
Visit Salt Lake◊ Wells Fargo Dr. Jeremy Wimmer with Elite Chiropractic Center* Anonymous $5,000+ America First Credit Union◊ Bambara Restaurant*◊ R. Harold Burton Foundation Henry W. and Leslie M. Eskuche Charitable Foundation Freed of London Choo-San Goh & H. Robert Magee Foundation Myriad Genetics, Inc.◊ Nordstrom PrincePerelson and Associates◊ Promontory Foundation Ruth’s Chris Steak House*◊ Workers Compensation Fund◊ $1,000+ A&Z Produce Company* AC Hotel Salt Lake City/Downtown* Mallory Berge, L.Ac.* City Center Psychology* Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage Community Foundation Cosset Bath and Body* Katherine W. & Ezekiel R. Dumke, Jr. Foundation Durham Jones & Pinegar Hilton Salt Lake City Center* Holiday Inn Express Salt Lake City*
Holland & Hart LLP◊ Industrial Supply* London Belle Supper Club*◊ Merrick Bank Nicholas and Company* Parr Brown Gee & Loveless PSAV Presentation Services* Residence Inn* Snell & Wilmer Snow, Christensen & Martineau Foundation Allen Tran, U.S. Ski & Snowboard Team* The Williams Companies Foundation YMCA of Northern Utah *Indicates donation made in-kind
◊ Indicates Corporate Council member
The above list includes corporate, foundation, and government support received between May 1, 2018, and May 13, 2019.
ARTISTIC IMPACT FUND DONORS
We thank the below donors for their generous gifts made in support of one of three company initiatives: Commissioning New Works, Commissioning New Productions, or Sponsoring National and International Touring. Kathie and Charles Horman Barbara Barrington Jones
Barbara Levy Kipper Hank and Diane Louis Sam & Diane Stewart Sascha and Richard Shutkind Visit Salt Lake Elaine Wolbrom
ACADEMY SCHOLARSHIP FUND DONORS
Bud and Janet Blackmore Marie and Kevin Brown John and Kristi Cumming Barbara Barrington Jones Scott Kirkpatrick Susan and Chris Lockwood Jenny and Joe Maffuccio Jennifer and Gideon Malherbe Willis McCree & John Fromer Jan Mitchell Park City Community Foundation: The Solomon Fund Promontory Foundation Shari and David Quinney Braden and Heather Shupe Summit Sotheby’s International Realty
The above list includes scholarship donations received between May 1, 2018, and May 13, 2019. Donations of $1,000 or above represented.
MAKING CELEBRATIONS
UNFORGETTABLE SINCE 1965.
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AMERICA’S FIRST NUTCRACKER Considered to be the longest running Nutcracker in the United States, Ballet West’s production of Willam Christensen’s (Mr. C) The Nutcracker will take center stage this anniversary season. Ballet West, in partnership with Brigham Young University’s cable network, BYUtv, will produce a documentary film about the untold story of how The Nutcracker came to America and broadcast it to over 60 million subscribers worldwide.
CELEBRATE WITH US! Make an anniversary gift and be part of the celebratory events:
DEC 7
OPENING NIGHT
PRIVATE NUTCRACKER DINNER for Anniversary Donors LAND OF THE SWEETS AFTER-PARTY on stage with the cast
DEC 13–15
WEEKEND
ALUMNI CLASS TAUGHT BY BRUCE CALDWELL ALUMNI LUNCHEON ALUMNI NIGHT AT THE NUTCRACKER Alumni after-party on stage
SAT DEC 14 FRI DEC 20 SAT DEC 21 SUN DEC 22
NUTCRACKER TEAS
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For more information about events or purchase tickets, please visit balletwest.org or call Patron Services at 801-869-6901.
PHOTO BY BEAU PEARSON