Front Row 2018 Special Edition

front row

THE YEAR IN RE-

VIEW

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first soloist allison debona & principal artist chase o’connell in áfrica guzmán’s sweet and bitter | photo by beau pearson

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WELCOME to a special edition of the Front Row, produced exclusively for our Heritage Club.

Your generous support allows Ballet West to explore, create, and stretch this art form. This year, especially, Ballet West has electrified the stage with a world premiere of Nicolo Fonte’s Carmina Burana, a fully updated Nutcracker, the iconic production of Ashton’s Cinderella, the quirky and captivating The Shakespeare Suite, and the gorgeous and athletic premieres presented at the National Choreographic Festival.

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Without your support, this company would look very different, and so we say thank you with this look back at a season you helped create, and a year none of us will soon forget.

staff: josh jones, Writer & Editor | alex moya, Art Direction and Graphic Design sara neal, Chief Marketing Officer

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artists of ballet west in jiří kylián’s return to a strange land photo by beau pearson

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SEP

NEW NEW

STEPPING UP TO THE BARRE

Ballet West was excited to begin the 54th season by announcing the appointment of Michael Scolamiero as Executive Director. The selection came after an extensive six-month international search, led by Michael Kaiser, President Emeritus of The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. Scolamiero was the 17-year Executive Director of Pennsylvania Ballet before joining Miami City Ballet, one of the nation’s largest ballet companies. After an even more exhaustive search, Scolamiero recently purchased a home in downtown Salt Lake.

photo by

kelli bram

ble

AN EVENING OF ELEGANCE

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Opening the season, Ballet West’s Gala was a glamorous evening that celebrated the beginning of Artistic Director Adam Sklute’s 10th Anniversary, Christopher Ruud’s 20th year with the Company, and the 20th Anniversary of the groundbreaking education and outreach program, I CAN DO. ballet west academy students photo by kelli bramble

OCT

W YORK, W YORK

principal artists emily adams & adrian fry in chaconne by george balanchine © the george balanchine trust photo by beau pearson

With a lead gift from the Janet Quinney Lawson Foundation, Ballet West was once again invited to return to The Joyce Theater, where the performances sold-out. New York’s Village Voice said, “Ballet West passed the exam with high marks, owing both to its attention to detail and to the emotional outpouring generated by the program.”

WORLD BALLET DAY

World Ballet Day is one of the most exclusive opportunities in ballet, so it was thrilling to receive this coveted invitation to present 30 minutes on the official Facebook feed with 15 of the world’s most renowned companies. Millions watched as dancers presented a studio rehearsal of Nicolo Fonte’s Fox on the Doorstep.

principal artists beckanne sisk & rex tilton photo by beau pearson

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NOV

CARMINA B U R A NA

SIZZLES

The world premiere of Nicolo Fonte’s Carmina Burana opened to rave reviews: “Shiver-worthy, awe-inspiring, and powerful,” said the Deseret News. “One of the most ambitious productions in the company’s history,” surveyed The Daily Utah Chronicle. The Salt Lake Tribune called it, “Beautiful, gripping, and dynamic.” Accompanying the 18 dancers on stage were 76 choir members, backed by the 50-member Ballet West Orchestra… and the results were truly phenomenal.

top: principal artists beckanne sisk & chase o’connell in nicolo fonte’s carmina burana | photo by luke isley. bottom: left to right, soloist alexander macfarlan & artist oliver oguma; first soloist allison debona &soloist tyler gum; nicolo fonte & artists of ballet west | photos by beau pearson.

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DEC

MR. C’S NUTCRACKER

REDUX Ballet West premiered a new $3 million production of Willam Christensen’s The Nutcracker, presented by the George S. and Dolores Doré Eccles Foundation. While the historic choreography and Tchaikovsky’s score remained the same, virtually every other aspect was thoughtfully redesigned.

Thousands of hours by hundreds of Utah artisans went into the process and the results were luminous: 200 glittering costumes, hundreds of props, and dozens of monumental sets breathed new life into this magnificent and beloved production.

artists of ballet west in willam christensen’s the nutcracker photo by beau pearson

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JAN

BEST PERFORMANCE Dance Magazine’s Wendy Perron gave a “2017 Best Performance” nod to Ballet West for its Joyce Theater engagement: "Emily Adams’ delicate fluidity in Dances for Lou

by Val Caniparoli; Arolyn Williams’ ghostly lushness in Ruth, Ricordi per Due by Arpino; Beckanne Sisk’s sparkling technique in Balanchine’s Chaconne." And—in a special call out: "Katlyn Addison sported an Afro in Ballet West’s program of two contemporary ballets at The Joyce. Refreshing, considering how locked down the women’s hair must be on most ballet stages."

principal artist emily adams in val caniparoli’s dances for lou | photo by beau pearson

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soloist katlyn addison & artist hadirel diniz in áfrica guzmán’s sweet and bitter | photo by beau pearson

principal artists arolyn williams & christopher ruud in gerald alpino’s ruth, ricordi per due | photo by beau pearson

FEB Sir Frederick Ashton’s Cinderella returned to the Capitol Theater in grand fashion and became the highest grossing winter production in the Company’s history.

A Sensational

Cinderella

artists of ballet west in sir frederick ashton’s cinderella photo by beau pearson

OLYMPIC FEVER

Ballet West Academy alumnus Nathan Chen competed at the Olympics and not only broke a few world records, but also brought home a silver medal. Chen trained at the Academy and performed in The Nutcracker and The Sleeping Beauty before focusing on figure skating. In an interview with NBC News, he credited his phenomenal abilities to his early ballet training.

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MAR CONGRATULATIONS! Adam Sklute announced the promotion of six dancers:

atists of ballet we

st ii | photo by bea

u pearson

Katlyn Addison & Tyler Gum to First Soloist

education & outreach After traveling to 55 schools, and presenting in front of 33,000 students, Ballet West for Children wrapped up another year. This extensive outreach program travels to public schools in every nook of Utah to teach about the discipline, athleticism, and beauty of ballet. Combined, Ballet West’s Education and Outreach programs are the most expansive of any ballet company in America, serving more than 110,000 students, teachers, and community members annually.

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Chelsea Keefer & Jordan Veit to Soloist

Emily Neale & Hadriel Diniz to Demi-Soloist.

APR

artist kyle davis in merce cunningham’s summerspace photo by beau pearson

A TRIPLE BILL WITH TRIPLE THRILLS

April’s repertoire production, The Shakespeare Suite, was a thoroughly entertaining triple bill that delighted audiences with David Bintley’s quirky and rollicking ode to the Bard’s most-loved plays. It was accompanied by Merce Cunningham’s brilliant Summerspace and Jiří Kylián’s highly athletic and profoundly emotional Return to a Strange Land.

first soloist allison debona & principal artist rex tilton in david bintley’s the shakespeare suite | photo by beau pearson

IN THE COMMUNITY

Inspiring Children About Not Dropping Out (I CAN DO), Ballet West’s highly successful outreach program, celebrated its 20th anniversary with a year-end blow-out performance that included hundreds of fifth graders.

i can do program participants photo by beau pearson

ACCOLADES AT THE ACADEMY

The Frederick Quinney Lawson Ballet West Academy students Estella Birkinshaw and Jonas Malinka-Thompson celebrated their third place finish in the final rounds of a prestigious international competition, the Youth America Grand Prix, at New York City’s Lincoln Center.

estella birkinshaw and jonas malinka-thompson photo by beau pearson

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NOV

artists of ballet west in natalie weir’s jabula photo by beau pearson

NATIONAL CHOREOGRAPHIC FESTIVAL—

THAT’S A WRAP.

The National Choreographic Festival welcomed Charlotte Ballet, Cincinnati Ballet, Richmond Ballet, and The Washington Ballet to present works created by female choreographers. Salt Lake’s City Weekly said, “At a moment in our country’s history when women are standing up for themselves, a festival that highlights their important work in ballet couldn’t be more timely. It’s forward thinking like this that is helping the National Choreographic Festival meet and perhaps even exceed Sklute’s best dreams of it one day becoming for dance what Utah’s Sundance is for film.” Thank you to our festival sponsors, Meldrum Foundation, BMW of Murray, and Dominion Energy, for their support.

first soloist allison debona in áfrica guzmán’s sweet and bitter photo by beau pearson

THE BALLET WEST FAMILY GROWS!

First Soloist Allison DeBona and Principal Rex Tilton announced they are going to have a baby!

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AWARDS THIS YEAR • Q Salt Lake’s Fabby Award: Best Dance Company • City Weekly’s Best of: Best Dance Company • The Salt Lake Tribune’s SALT Award: Best Dance Company • Dance Magazine’s “2017 Best Performance” for The Joyce Engagement • Utah Diversity Connection’s Business Award for Commitment to Workplace Equity

Be part of the glamour and excitement of Ballet West’s 55th Season.

We invite you to join our Heritage club, with a gift that could support the commissioning of new works, company training, or an aspiring dancers training.

principal artists emily adams & adrian fry photo by beau pearson

ARTISTIC IMPACT FUND

CORPORATE COUNCIL

Investing in Ballet West’s Artistic Impact Fund is investing in our future.

Your Company, Our Brand

Underwrite a newly commissioned work by renowned choreographer Edwaard Liang to debut at the Choreographic Festival in the spring of 2019.

Align your company’s brand with the allure and elegance of Ballet West by sponsoring a production, a performance, or an education and outreach program. Tickets for employees and clients are included in a sponsorship.

Support original choreography, costumes and sets for Peter & the Wolf, a children’s ballet set to a score by Sergei Prokofiev. This ballet will debut in collaboration with the Utah Symphony in the spring of 2019.

Costume sponsorships are available.

Join us on tour—Donor Packages available!

ACADEMY SCHOLARSHIP FUND DECEMBER 5–9, 2018

FEBRUARY 1–2, 2019

The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Washington, D.C.

The Royal Theatre, Victoria, British Columbia

The George S. and Dolores Doré Eccles Foundation Presents William Christensen’s The Nutcracker.

Ballet West will perform Val Caniparoli’s Dances for Lou, Nicolo Fonte’s Fox on the Doorstep and a pas de deux from George Balanchine’s Jewels.

Ballet West offers full or partial scholarships to talented students to study at The Frederick Quinney Lawson Ballet West Academy. Support the next generation of young artists by supporting the Academy Scholarship Fund, giving the gift of dance!

Please contact Sarah West, Chief Development Officer, at 801.869.6936 or swest@balletwest.org for more information.

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Donors Each issue of Front Row features a listing of current Founder’s Circle and Heritage Club patrons, corporate sponsors, foundation and government supporters, and new members ($75 and above) who have joined since our last publication. For a full listing of our generous 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 The Huntsman Foundation Barbara Barrington Jones Emma Eccles Jones Foundation Frederick Q. Lawson Foundation Janet Quinney Lawson Foundation Meldrum Foundation John and Marcia Price Family Foundation Shari and David Quinney S.J. and Jessie E. Quinney Foundation Rocky Mountain Power Beano Solomon James Lee Sorenson Family Foundation Wells Fargo heritage club Mr. C & Mrs. Wallace Peggy Bergmann Judy Brady and Drew W. Browning John and Kristi Cumming Paul and Cheryl Huntsman Barbara Barrington Jones Barbara Levy Kipper Peter and Cathie Meldrum John and Marcia Price Family Foundation Shari and David Quinney Beano Solomon Krista and Jim Sorenson Principal and First Soloist Gregory McComas and Vilija Avizonis Family, a Donor Advised Fund of The U.S. Charitable Gift Trust Convergence Planning DiFiore Family Sue J. Ellis Alan and Jeanne Hall Foundation Stephanie and Tim Harpst Cindy and Howard Hochhauser Katharine W. Lamb Santiago and Valeria Marti Dan P. Miller John and Andrea Miller Jeanne Potucek Keith and Nancy Rattie Erin and Bryan Riggsbee Theodore Schmidt Jonathan and Liz Slager

Barbara L. Tanner The Varvel Family Charitable Fund Brad and Linda Walton Carole Wood and Darrell Hensleigh Julia S. Watkins Soloist and Demi-Soloist Anonymous Stephany Alexander Margaret Anderson Kim Strand and Mike Black Brown Family Foundation Carol Browning, Céline Browning, and Rete and Rikki Browning Judy and Larry Brownstein Alexis Carr Carol Carter Carol Christ Kay Christiansen Jim and Barbara Clark Spencer F. and Cleone P. Eccles Family Foundation Erik and Uzo Erlingsson John and Ilauna Gurr Ron and Shelley Hansen Marc and Mary Carole Harrison Jennifer S. Horne Scott Huntsman Tina Jensen - Moreton and Company Jeanne M. Kimball James R. Kruse and Mary Jo Smith Dr. George and Cynthia Lampropoulos David and Naja Lockwood Hank and Diane Louis Paul and Melanie Lyon Jennifer and Gideon Malherbe Angela Martindale and Michael Snow Rachèle McCarthey and Brock VandeKamp Thomas and Mary McCarthey Willis McCree and John Fromer Anthony and Jessica Mirabile Richard and Lois Peterson Madeleine and Harvey Plonsker Brian and Janae Powell Barbara Snarr Reid Mark and Melanie Robbins Ellen and Chris Rossi Margaret P. Sargent Jonathan and Amanda Schmieder Teresa Silcox Adam Sklute and Christopher Renstrom John Sklute George H. Speciale Sue and Jack Stahl Jennifer Strachan and Tom Biersbach Rick and Chris Veit Roy Vincent Sue and Walker Wallace Susan Warshaw Jacquelyn Wentz Marelynn and Edward Zipser

SEASON SPONSORS:

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Corps de Ballet Anonymous (4) John and Marilyn Alleman Jeffrey Bronson Anderson Stephen Anderson Ronald and Kathy Aoki Bené Arnold Petras and Liuda Avizonis Carol Baer Stephen and Marcy Barlow Govert Bassett Frances and Jerome Battle Clisto and Suzanne Beaty Gary Beers Trina and Jerome Bellendir Alene Bentley Sharon and Michael Bertelsen Ginny Bostrom Rich Broggi Marie and Kevin Brown Meredith Cameron Robert Chamberlain Rebecca Marriott Champion Cecile and Harold Christiansen Drs. Joan L. and William Coles William and Melissa Connelly Pascale De Rozario and Jonathan Crossett Willard and Julie Dere Meredith and Stephen Drechsel John Eckert Sissy Eichwald Patti Eylar and Charlie Gardner Deborah B. and Edward Felt John and Joan Firmage Tracy Frankel Karen L. Freed David Keith Garside and Audrey Miner Marla M. Gault DeGauss Global Travel Network Ann and Rick Gold David and Sandylee Griswold Jon and Tami Hansen Sandy Haughey David P. Heuvel and Johann Jacobs Connie C. Holbrook Mark and Wendi Holland Julie Hopkins Daniel Horns and Renee Zollinger Larry and Tina Howard Robert and Dixie Huefner David and Linda Irvine Gordon Irving Anne and Conrad Jenson Marilyn and Chester Johnson G. Frank and Pamela Joklik Howard A. and Lou Ann B. Jorgensen Adriane Herrick Juarez John S. Karls The Keefers Brenda Kees The Kohlburn/Lecointre Family Carol and Guy Kroesche Katherine Probert Labrum Roxanne Christensen and Tony Lazzara Bruce and Sheryl Lefavi David E. and Helane B. Leta Dustin Lipson Kathy Lynch Carrie and Doug Madsen Richard Mandahl and Franci Leary Dr. John and Colleen McCarter Nancy Melich and Lex Hemphill

David and Colleen Merrill Jennifer Moldre Edward B. and Barbara C. Moreton Sheri P. and Ted Morgan Scott and JoAnn Narus Anne Neeley Oren and Liz Nelson Karen Nichols Chris and Courtney Opdyke Linda S. Pembroke Andrea Peterson Troy and Helena Piantes Jeanie Pollack Kyle and Brenda Powell Lee Quinney Nancy Rapoport and Jeff Van Niel Suzanne and David Razor The Rickman Family Benjamin and Jade Romney Mark and Linda Scholl Robert and Nancy Schumacker Katherine Scott Laura Scott and Rodney Mena Ben and Lael Selznick Aharon Shulimson and Julie Terry Braden and Heather Shupe Nancy and Robert Sparrer Lou Ann Stevens Maarten and Annette Terry Stephen and Vanice Thomson Jennifer Vanderwilt Raymond Vismantas Amy Wadsworth and David Richardson Mark Weisbender Bill and Betty Weldon Sue Wilkerson Elaine Wolbrom Mary Bird and Lance Wood foundations, corporate, and government support $100,000+ Ancestry George S. and Dolores Doré Eccles Foundation The Huntsman Foundation Janet Quinney Lawson Foundation Meldrum Foundation Salt Lake County Zoo, Arts & Parks Utah State Board of Education— Professional Outreach Programs in the Schools $25,000–99,999 B. W. Bastian Foundation Comcast* Dominion Energy Marriner S. Eccles Foundation Eleve Dancewear* David Kelby Johnson Memorial Foundation Emma Eccles Jones Foundation The Kahlert Foundation Frederick Q. Lawson Foundation OOCL* The Rea Charitable Trust Salt Lake Regional Medical Center* The Shubert Foundation Sorenson Legacy Foundation Utah Division of Arts and Museums

$10,000–24,999 Anonymous Artisan Bloom* Beaver Creek Foundation BMW of Murray R. Harold Burton Foundation The Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints Foundation C. Comstock Clayton Foundation Lawrence T. and Janet T. Dee Foundation Florence J. Gillmor Foundation Richard K. and Shirley S. Hemingway Foundation Jones Waldo* National Endowment for the Arts The New Yorker* O.C. Tanner Company Park City Community Foundation: The Solomon Fund S. J. and Jessie E. Quinney Foundation Rocky Mountain Power Foundation Salt Lake Power Yoga* Simmons Family Foundation Summit County Cultural RAP Tax Wells Fargo Dr. Jeremy Wimmer with Elite Chiropractic Center* $5,000–9,999 America First Credit Union Bambara Restaurant* Blue Iguana* JP Morgan Chase Discovery Gateway* Henry W. and Leslie M. Eskuche Charitable Foundation Goldman Sachs In The Event* Gaye Marrash Arts Foundation - a Donor Advised Fund of The U.S. Charitable Gift Trust Promontory Foundation Ruth’s Chris Steak House* Union Pacific Foundation Workers Compensation Fund $1,000–4,999 3M Health Information Systems A&Z Produce Company* Beesley Family Foundation Mallory Berge Acupuncture* Caitland Photography Nicole Detling - HeadStrong Consulting* Industrial Supply* Merrick Bank Salt Lake City Arts Council Semnani Family Foundation Silver Summit Event Design* Snow, Christensen & Martineau Foundation Allen Tran, U.S. Ski & Snowboard Team* U.S. Bank Foundation Utah Hispanic Chamber of Commerce* Kawika Ventura-Smith - Living Through Movement* The Williams Companies Foundation As of May 25, 2018 *Indicates donations made in kind

MAKING CELEBRATIONS

UNFORGETTABLE SINCE 1965.

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As of May 25, 2018

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52 west 200 south salt lake city, utah 84101

artists of ballet west in jiří kylián’s return to a strange land photo by beau pearson

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