BMW of Murray 4735 S. State Street
Murray, Utah
801-262-2479
bmwofmurray.com BMW of Pleasant Grove 2111 West Grove Parkway
Pleasant Grove, Utah
801-443-2000
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PRODUCTION SPONSOR
We sincerely thank our generous sponsor for making this production possible.
PERFORMANCE SPONSOR
March 29 Matinee
luigi resta and kathy warren
March 28 Evening
moreton & co.
March 29 Evening
Adam Sklute ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
THE WILLAM CHRISTENSEN ARTISTIC DIRECTOR CHAIR
SPONSORED BY PEGGY BERGMANN
Michael Scolamiero EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
THE ELIZABETH SOLOMON EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR CHAIR
Olivia Book, Jaya Dhand, Adrian Fite, Lund Fuller, Victor Galeana, Ava Gray, Pieter Gunning, Callie Herbert, Téa Hinchley, Mirin Hirano, Andre McGregor II, Mario Mery, Anna Murray, Sophia Nanni
Carly Allyn, Hannah Anderson, Dakota Blake, Milla Botha, Natalie Clayton, Avery Denney, Sophie Gilpin, Marie Hefley, Katherine Kaprielian, Rafe King, Ava Lynn, Melanie McIntire, Kennedy Newell, Chase Peterson, Mia Petkovic, Mateo Salinas, Luka Sanchez, Tegan Smith, Collin Stephens, Zoë Wilson, Annalise Wood, Avery Wood, Gretta Wright
Connor Blank, Mateo Daukaus, Jaime Dorris, Peri Lewis, Salvatore Lodi, Symonne Martelly, Max Ray, Rowan Green Teigeler, Denny Teolis, Belle Thomas, Emery Toohey, Revkah Yanez
Alvin Ackerman, Isabella Agrapides, Olivia Baskerville, Ellie Beckstrand, Liam Candee, Roslin Cherry, Tess Jensen, Lucy Fuoco, Audrey Galati, Giselle Garrison, Sophie Hawkins-Marcus, Adelyn Hayes, Noah Hesse, Grace Heighton, Madeleine Hsieh, Symonne Martelly, Leila Morris, Sonia Neal, Winona Neal, Abigail Overman, Harper Pack, Carina Paulsen, Arielle Nelson, Cambree Satterfield, Sasha Scholnick, Molly Stowe, Esmee Trader, Chloe Xiting Su, Aspen Woolner, Leah Wu, Elizabeth Zheng, Harrison Zheng, Elsie Zinn
ARTISTIC STAFF
Jared Oaks MUSIC DIRECTOR
Pamela Robinson-Harris PRINCIPAL REHEARSAL DIRECTOR
Calvin Kitten DIRECTOR OF BALLET WEST II/ REHEARSAL DIRECTOR
Liz Wiand STAGE MANAGER AND PRODUCTION OPERATIONS COORDINATOR
Michael Andrew Currey DIRECTOR OF PRODUCTION
Michael McCulloch PRODUCTION STAGE MANAGER
Reuben Lehr ARTISTIC OPERATIONS MANAGER AND ASSISTANT TO THE ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
James Payne TRAINEE COORDINATOR
Jason Hadley DIRECTOR OF COSTUME PRODUCTION
Evelyn Cisneros-Legate DIRECTOR OF BALLET WEST ACADEMY
Courtney Hellebuyck STUDENT REHEARSAL DIRECTOR
WILLAM CHRISTENSEN, CO-FOUNDER & FOUNDING ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
GLENN WALKER WALLACE, CO-FOUNDER
Welcome to our Annual Family Series program designed to give you and your entire family the experience of this beautiful, athletic, storytelling art form of ballet. We created this program as a way for you to introduce young ones to live theater and dance, but in an environment that makes it accessible to everyone. In just over one hour, with an intermission and narration to tell the story in order to illuminate the dance, it is our hope that we excite and inspire you with this magical performing art.
For this year’s program, I have chosen a revival of our hugely popular 2013 – Aladdin and His Wonderful Lamp from the ancient stories of The Tales of 1001 Arabian Nights.
These tales also include Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves and The Seven Voyages of Sinbad. They are all part of the stories of Scheherazade, about a woman who told her sultan stories for 1001 nights to entertain him in order to stay alive.
As a child I loved these dramatic stories with the exotic locations. So to bring Aladdin to life on stage, I assembled a fantastic team. The choreography has been co-created by Ballet West Principal Ballet Mistress Pamela Robinson-Harris and our former Associate Director of Ballet West II Peggy Dolkas. Pamela also selected and arranged the music, using a mix of several renowned classic composers. We agreed that the story should run similar to a “Looney Tune, or Popeye cartoon to present a story both magical and hilarious. The sets have been designed by Michael Andrew Currey, and the costumes have been designed by Ballet West’s Emeritus Director of Costume Production David Heuvel. They took my original concepts and produced a work that is at once fun-filled storytelling and elegant dance. Pamela also selected the source material for the libretto, and together we compiled the narration, which has been recorded by Ballet West staff and friends past and present to create a charming and comedic story. I am also thrilled that we now present on of our Family Classics performances with the narration in Spanish, giving even more members of our community an opportunity to enjoy. The dancing is performed by Ballet West II, Ballet West Professional Training Division, and all levels of Ballet West Academy. This makes the Family Classic Series an important opportunity for our preprofessionals and students to appear on our mainstage in a public performance. It’s to be noted that this is our third revival of Aladdin, Our premiere Aladdin (in 2013) has grown into our principal artist, Jordan Veit; and our Aladdin (in our 2018 revival) is our newly named principal David Huffmire.
Ballet West’s Family Classic Series Aladdin is a ballet for everyone, and this program is a perfect opportunity for you and your family to take time, slow down (not for too long), and experience theater, art, music, and togetherness.
I hope you enjoy, because I couldn’t have wished for more out of this ballet if I had rubbed a lamp and asked a genie myself.
Thank You for your patronage,
Adam
Sklute
The Willam Christensen Artistic Director Chair Sponsored By Peggy Bergmann
Since 2007, Adam Sklute has expanded Ballet West’s outlook, repertoire, and visibility with exciting Company and world premieres, increased touring, heightened public exposure, and greater focus on the Ballet West Academy. He began his career with The Joffrey Ballet, rising through the ranks from dancer to Associate Director. His stewardship of Ballet West has been marked by both financial growth and elevated artistry, and was the subject of The CW Network’s docu-drama, Breaking Pointe, which aired for two seasons. From September 2016 to October 2017, Sklute took on the dual position of CEO and Artistic Director, overseeing both administrative and artistic operations of Ballet West. An internationally sought-after teacher and adjudicator, Sklute has received numerous awards, including Utah’s Enlightened 50 (2014), The Bronze Minuteman Award for Outstanding Service to Utah and The Nation (2015), and Utah Diversity Connection’s Business Award for outstanding commitment to diversity initiatives. Most recently, Sklute was included in Deseret Magazine’s 25 Changemakers of the West for his efforts to build greater equity and inclusion in classical ballet.
I am delighted to welcome you to Aladdin, one of five Family Classics ballets Ballet West created specifically with younger audiences in mind. With running times of approximately 80 minutes (including intermission), they are appropriately suited to children’s shorter attention spans and serve as a perfect introduction to the art of ballet. Aladdin, and the other Family Classics ballets, offer narration that is hugely beneficial to toddlers and children in understanding the plot. Several years ago, Ballet West began to offer narration in both English and Spanish, further broadening the reach of the productions and offering yet another example of Ballet West’s commitment to diversifying its audiences and making these ballets accessible to the Spanish-speaking public.
Another important element of the Family Classics ballets is their casts are entirely comprised of students from the Frederick Quinney Lawson Ballet Academy. Children and young adults are given the opportunity to perform on the Janet Quinney Lawson Capitol Theatre stage, something no other training academy can offer. Leading roles are performed by our Ballet West II dancers and students enrolled in the Academy’s trainee division, giving them valuable stage experience that will enhance their resumes and serve them well as they advance in their careers (Academy enrollment opens in April).
Next season, Ballet West will unveil the first new Family Classics ballet in more than six years. It promises to offer the very best in dance, theatre, and music, in a suitable format for children of all ages. We are excited to expand this series yet again with a new production that will adhere to the high standards of our existing productions.
Thank you for joining us for Aladdin!
Yours sincerely,
Michael Scolamiero
The Elizabeth Solomon Executive Director Chair
Michael Scolamiero joined Ballet West after an extensive international search led by Michael Kaiser, President Emeritus of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. Since that time, Scolamiero has played a key role in transforming the organization’s financial health, eliminating operating deficits and building a cash reserve. With a strong balance sheet, Ballet West no longer requires external financing to meet cash needs and is growing its endowment. Under his direction, Ballet West has purchased and operates residential housing in downtown Salt Lake City for students at the Frederick Quinney Lawson Ballet West Academy.
Come tour a campus and see for yourself!
Challenger School offers uniquely fun and academic classes for preschool to eighth-grade students. Our students learn to think for themselves and to value independence.
Farmington (PS–G7) (801) 451-6565 1089 Shepard Creek Parkway
Holladay (PS–K) (801) 278-4797 4555 South 2300 East
Salt Lake (PS–G8) (801) 487-4402 1325 South Main Street
Sandy (PS–G8) (801) 572-6686 10670 South 700 East
Lehi (PS–G8) (801) 407-8777 3920 North Traverse Mountain Boulevard
West Jordan (PS–G1) (801) 565-1058 2247 West 8660 South
From Balanchine to Bournonville, Petipa to Tharp, Ballet West boasts a rich and varied repertoire, elegant and versatile artists, and an American style and legacy that is as dynamic, expansive, and as unexpected as the Rocky Mountain region it represents. From its humble beginnings in 1963 as the only professional ballet company between Chicago and the West Coast, Ballet West has grown into one of America’s leading ballet companies. For 60 years, the Salt Lake City-based Company has entertained and excited audiences in Utah and worldwide by presenting the great classical story ballets, including America’s first and longest-running version of The Nutcracker, revivals of rarelyseen historical masterpieces, works by some of the world’s most renowned artists, and new cutting-edge creations by emerging choreographers. The Company also regularly tours both nationally and internationally.
Ballet West was established in Salt Lake City by co-founders Willam F. Christensen, often called the “Godfather of American ballet,” and Utah’s “First Lady of the Arts,” Glenn Walker Wallace. In 1951, Christensen established the first ballet department in an American university at The University of Utah. Over time, this program grew into the Utah Civic Ballet, Ballet West’s first incarnation. Prior to that, along with his brothers, Lew and Harold, Christensen made history by establishing the oldest full-ballet company in the western United States, the San Francisco Ballet.
Since its inception, Ballet West has had five artistic directors, who have each helped build the Company’s unique and expansive profile – its founder, Willam Christensen, Bruce Marks, John Hart CBE, Jonas Kåge, and for the past 17 years, Adam Sklute, who has overseen the artistic product for the longest sustained growth of the Company since its founding. Ballet West continues to grow and evolve with 39 company members, 14 second company members, a thriving Academy, and one of the world’s largest ballet-based Education and Outreach programs, reaching over 140,000 children and adults throughout Utah and the Intermountain Region every year.
The Frederick Q. Lawson Ballet West (BW) Academy builds future ballet and dance artists and audiences by providing training in classical ballet, flamenco, character, contemporary, hiphop, jazz, and theatrical dance training. The BW Academy has nearly 1,000 students between its four campuses - Salt Lake City, Trolley Corners, Park City, and Utah County. With newlyrenovated student housing, the BW Academy is home to local, national, and international ballet students, with more than 50% of BW Academy students joining Ballet West.
With this eclectic and ever-expanding outlook, Ballet West is truly an American pioneer in dance. By honoring the history and traditions of our great artform, while constantly moving forward with new and untried concepts, we continue to keep ballet in Utah and the world alive and thriving into the future.
Presented by Ballet West II and Frederick Quinney Lawson Ballet West Academy
Choreography: Pamela Robinson-Harris and Peggy Dolkas
Music: Jean Sibelius, Carl Nielsen, Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov, Edvard Grieg, Antonín Dvořák, Kouchyar Shahroudi
Musical Selections and Arrangement: Pamela Robinson-Harris and Peggy Dolkas
Music and Sound Editing: Ken Kruckenberg at Sonic Pathways
Scenery Design: Michael Andrew Currey
Costumes: David Heuvel
Lighting Design: James K. Larsen
Narration: Jane Wood with Scott Altman
World Premiere: April 6, 2013, Janet Quinney Lawson Capitol Theatre, Salt Lake City, Utah
This program lasts approximately 1 hour and 20 minutes, with one 20-minute intermission.
Serie Clásica Familiar
Presentada por Ballet West II y Frederick Quinney Lawson Ballet West Academy
Coreografía y libreto: Pamela Robinson-Harris y Peggy Dolkas
Música: Jean Sibelius, Carl Nielsen, Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov, Edvard Grieg, Antonín Dvořák, Kouchyar Shahroudi
Selecciones musicales y arreglos: Pamela Robinson-Harris y Peggy Dolkas
Edición de música y sonido: Ken Kruckenberg de Sonic Pathways
Diseño escénico: Michael Andrew Currey
Vestuario: David Heuvel
Diseño de iluminación: James K. Larsen
Narración: Isabella Reeder with Bryce Fernelius
Estreno mundial: 6 de abril de 2013, Janet Quinney Lawson Capitol Theatre, Salt Lake City, Utah
Este programa tiene una duración aproximada de 1 hora y 20 minutos, con un intermedio de 20 minutos.
3/28 EVE
Scheherazade Annalise Wood
King Shahryar ....................................................................................... Pieter Gunning
Dinarzad.......................................................................................................Peri Lewis
Aladdin Andre McGregor II
Aladdin’s Mother Ava Gray-Bobbit
Malik, Aladdin’s monkey ............................................................................. Lucy Fuoco
Princess Kalila ........................................................................................... Jaya Dhand
Kalila’s Friends .......................................................... Katherine Kaprielian, Zoe Wilson
Samirah, Kalila’s tiger cub Winona Neal
The Sultan, Kalila’s father .......................................................................... Lund Fuller
The Sorcerer ......................................................................................... Victor Galeana
Hajar, the Sorcerer’s camel ................................................Milla Botha, Natalie Clayton Fatima, the holy woman Anna Murray
The Big Genie .............................................................................................. Mario Mery
The Little Genie.................................................................................. Ellie Beckstrand
The Snake Charmer ................................................................................ Luka Sanchez Cobra, his snake Sasha Scholnick
Guards/Slaves ....................................................................... Jaime Dorris, Rafe King, Chase Peterson, Mateo Salinas, Collin Stephens, Avery Wood Odalisques .................................................. Dakota Blake, Avery Denney, Marie Hefley, Ava Lynn, Kennedy Newell, Mia Petkovic
Food Vendor Family................................ Olivia Baskerville, Liam Candee, Sophie Gilpin Chloe Xiting Su, Rowan Green Teigeler, Spice Vendor Family ...................................... Tegan Smith, Molly Stowe, Gretta Wright
Rugs and Pottery Vendor Family Melanie McIntire, Max Ray, Roslin Cherry, Elizabeth Zheng Street Urchins............. Audrey Galati, Grace Heighton, Sonia Neal, Leah Wu, Elsie Zinn Cave Trees ................................................................ Symonne Martelly, Emery Toohey
Scheherazade, King Shahryar, Dinarzad, Aladdin’s Mother, Aladdin, Malik, Princess Kalila, Samirah, The Sultan, The Sorcerer, Hajar, Fatima, The Big Genie, The Little Genie, Guards, Slaves, Odalisques, with Wazir, the Sultan’s advisor ..................................................................... Luka Sanchez Black Opal Téa Hinchley
Tiger’s Eye ................................................................................................ Mirin Hirano
Garnet .......................................................................................................... Carly Allyn
Emerald .................................................................................................. Sophia Nanni
Sapphire Olivia Book
Diamond................................................................................................. Callie Herbert
The Rat ................................................................................................ Harrison Zheng
3/29 MAT, EVE
Scheherazade Anna Murray
King Shahryar ........................................................................................ Luka Sanchez
Dinarzad.................................................................................................... Harper Pack
Aladdin Lund Fuller
Aladdin’s Mother ..................................................................................... Sophia Nanni
Malik, Aladdin’s monkey ............................................................... Cambree Satterfield
Princess Kalila ....................................................................................... Callie Herbert
Kalila’s Friends Mirin Hirano, Téa Hinchley
Samirah, Kalila’s tiger cub ................................................................... Giselle Garrison
The Sultan, Kalila’s father ................................................................ Andre McGregor II
The Sorcerer ......................................................................................... Victor Galeana
Hajar, the Sorcerer’s camel Avery Denney, Sophie Gilpin
Fatima, the holy woman ............................................................................. Jaya Dhand
The Big Genie ........................................................................................ Pieter Gunning
The Little Genie.................................................................................... Alvin Ackerman
The Snake Charmer Rafe King Cobra, his snake ................................................................................. Abigail Overman
Guards/Slaves .......................................
Jaime Dorris, Chase Peterson, Mateo Salinas, Collin Stephens, Denny Teolis, Avery Wood
Odalisques Carly Allyn, Hannah Anderson, Milla Botha, Natalie Clayton, Tegan Smith, Gretta Wright
Food Vendor Family............................................. Isabella Agrapides, Olivia Baskerville, Marie Hefley, Noah Hesse, Rowan Green Teigeler Spice Vendor Family
Sophie Hawkins-Marcus Ava Lynn, Zoe Wilson, Rugs and Pottery Vendor Family
Sophie Hawkins-Marcus, Arielle Nelson, Mia Petkovic, Max Ray, Esmee Trader Street Urchins........................................ Adelyn Hayes, Madeleine Hsieh, Tess Jensen, Leila Morris, Aspen Woolner Cave Trees Belle Thomas, Revkah Yanez
Scheherazade, King Shahryar, Dinarzad, Aladdin’s Mother, Aladdin, Malik, Princess Kalila, Samirah, The Sultan, The Sorcerer, Hajar, Fatima, The Big Genie, The Little Genie, Guards, Slaves, Odalisques, with Wazir, the Sultan’s advisor .................................................................... Victor Galeana
Black Opal ......................................................................................... Mellanie McIntire
Tiger’s Eye ............................................................................................ Annalise Wood
Garnet
Hannah Anderson
Emerald ............................................................................................ Ava Gray-Bobbitt
Sapphire .................................................................................................... Olivia Book
Diamond.................................................................................................. Dakota Blake
The Rat Carina Paulsen
Choreographer and Principal Rehearsal Director
Pamela Robinson-Harris has served as Rehearsal Director for Ballet West for 25 years as well as the Company’s Interim Artistic Director from 2006 to 2007. Her career began with the Cleveland Ballet, followed by the State of Alabama Ballet and Ballet Mississippi. Robinson-Harris-joined Ballet West in 1985, advancing to Principal artist in 1988. During her career, Robinson-Harris performed in some of the most prestigious theaters in America, performing principal roles in most major classical works, including those of George Balanchine, Val Caniparoli, Sir Frederick Ashton and Ben Stevenson. Robinson-Harris together with choreographer Peggy Dolkas, co-choreographed three ballets for Ballet West’s Family Series— The Little Mermaid, Aladdin and Beauty and the Beast. She has also reworked major sections of Ballet West’s productions of The Sleeping Beauty, Swan Lake and Giselle. Most recently she was engaged to create Snow White for both Ballet West II and Cincinnati Ballet
Choreography, Music Arrangement, & Libretto
A native of Auburn, California, Peggy Dolkas joined Ballet West in 2003, where she quickly rose to Soloist, captivating audiences in principal roles such as Aurora, Giselle, and Odette/Odile. Her artistry earned her recognition as one of Dance Magazine’s “Top 25 Dancers to Watch” in 2007. Ms. Dolkas later became Ballet Mistress at Nevada Ballet Theatre and in 2015, was appointed Associate Director of Ballet West II.
Her choreographic achievements include winning “Best Choreographer” (Salt Lake City Artys, 2009), “Best Choreography” (Youth America Grand Prix, 2010), and the SLC Arts Festival Dance Commission Award (2018). She co-created The Little Mermaid (2012), Aladdin (2013), and Beauty and the Beast (2016) for Ballet West’s Family Series, later re-staging them for Cincinnati Ballet and Longview Ballet. Since returning to Northern California, Peggy has served as Artistic Director and Choreographer for Placer Theatre Ballet’s The Nutcracker for four years, taught for Sacramento Ballet, and is currently on faculty at Northern California Dance Conservatory.
Director of Ballet West II and Rehearsal Director
Calvin Kitten began his dance training at the California Ballet School in San Diego, and continued training at the State Ballet School in Tbilisi, Republic of Georgia, and at the Joffrey Ballet School in New York. Calvin joined the Joffrey Ballet in 1991. During his 19 years with the Joffrey, Calvin performed many Principal and Soloist roles while touring within the United States and internationally. Calvin has received two Ruth Page Awards, been featured on the cover of Dance Magazine, and appeared in numerous films. In 2010, Calvin joined the teaching faculty at the University of Utah’s ballet department. Calvin joined the Ballet West artistic staff as Director of Ballet West II in 2015.
Director of Frederick Quinney Lawson Ballet West Academy
Native Californian Evelyn Cisneros-Legate began studying ballet to overcome her profound shyness. After completing summer scholarships with the San Francisco Ballet School and the School of American Ballet, she began her apprenticeship with the San Francisco Ballet in 1976. She joined the Company in 1977 and soon began dancing principal roles, becoming a muse to the talents of Michael Smuin. Her repertoire with San Francisco Ballet included leading roles in both classical and contemporary pieces. Cisneros has been featured on the covers of several dance publications and received numerous awards for community activism and artistic achievements. She has honorary doctorate degrees from Mills College and the University of California at Monterey Bay. Cisneros retired from the San Francisco Ballet in 1999, and in 2001 she was appointed Ballet Education Coordinator in the San Francisco Ballet Center for Dance Education. She is currently on faculty at the University of California Irvine and has staged ballets for Val Caniparoli and Michael Smuin for numerous ballet companies. Cisneros co-authored “Ballet for Dummies” with conductor Scott Speck. She is married to retired principal dancer Stephen Legate, and their two children are their ultimate accomplishments and joy.
Student Rehearsal Director/Principal Faculty Ballet West Academy
Courtney Hellebuyck began her professional ballet training at the San Francisco Ballet School. She progressed through all of the levels and was then invited to be a part of the inaugural year of the San Francisco Ballet Trainee Program. She then went on to dance professionally with Pennsylvania Ballet, and toured to Edinburgh, Scotland in Christopher Wheeldon’s Swan Lake. From there, Courtney joined Smuin Ballet, under the Direction of Michael Smuin, where she danced in several World Premiere’s created on her by Michael. Ms. Hellebuyck then went on to join Cincinnati Ballet, and danced many leading roles including “Bomb Squad Girl” in Twyla Tharp’s “Upper Room”, “Marie” in Val Caniparoli’s Nutcracker, and Demi-Soloist in Balanchine’s Theme and Variations. After retiring from the stage, Courtney became Full-Time Academy Faculty + Adult Programming at the Otto M. Budig Academy at Cincinnati Ballet. She has been certified to teach in Group Fitness from A.F.A.A. partnered through N.A.S.M. and has been certified in Barre Fitness at The Ballet Physique Fitness Studio. Courtney has taught every Division at Cincinnati Ballet, as well as being a Rehearsal Assistant for Nutcracker, Ballet West's Family Series at Cincinnati Ballet: Aladdin, Beauty & the Beast, Snow White, and the World Premiere of Victoria Morgan’s Dancing to Oz. In August 2020, Ms. Hellebuyck became the Associate Artistic Director of Eastern Connecticut Ballet under the direction of Gloria Govrin, where she choreographed for ECB’s Virtual Nutcracker, as well as Spring Showcase. Since joining Ballet West as Student Rehearsal Director & Principal Faculty in 2021, Courtney has brought Nutcracker to the stage the past 4 seasons, with this season her highlight going on tour to The Kennedy Center and staging the production on local kids in the Washington D.C. Area, as well as setting the Family Series, Swan Lake, and The Sleeping Beauty
James Payne began his training in Phoenix Arizona with Michel Fokine’s niece Nina Marlow. His performing career with Ballet West (1989-1994) and Houston Ballet (1994-2001) gave him the opportunity to perform internationally working with exceptional choreographers and coaches. He has over 35 years of professional experience in the Art of Ballet.
Excelling at both classical and contemporary work allowed him to perform soloist and principal roles in all the classics as well as work by Ben Stevenson, Christopher Bruce, Ronald Hynd, George Balanchine, Val Caniparoli, Glen Tetley, William Forsythe, John Neumeier, Eugene Loring, Helgi Tomasson, Peter Martins, Jiří Kylián, Trey McIntyre, and more.
Upon his retirement from the stage, he served as Houston Ballet’s company manager and then co-founded and directed a student performing company and school for 17 years in the Woodlands, Texas. Jim has choreographed and produced 5 full length ballets and many one act ballets. He has served as Philadelphia Ballets School Director, Houston Ballet Academy faculty, and sat on the board of AGMA. Jim continues to serve as a Master Teacher and judge for YAGP and repetiteur for Trey McIntyre, staging his ballets internationally.
After his family, Jim’s biggest passion is teaching and mentoring the next generation of Artists.
David Heuvel has been associated with Ballet West since 1979. Apart from his work for Ballet West, he has designed and built costumes nationally and internationally, including Ballet Du Nord (France), Singapore Ballet, Washington Ballet, Carolina Ballet, North Carolina School of the Arts, Atlanta Ballet and Richmond Ballet.
A Salt Lake City Native, James has been working and designing for theatre and dance around the Mountain West since he was a youngster. James started designing for Ballet West in 2010 then took off on the road for a few years to find himself back working for the company as the Head Electrician in 2016. Since then he has lit several Ballet West Family Series productions and is currently the Lighting Supervisor for the main company. James has been seen lighting for: Salt Dance Co., Repertory Dance Theatre, Ririe Woodbury Dance Co., Tandy Beal and Co., Salt Lake Acting Co., Utah Symphony and as well as the BBC, Showtime, Netflix and HBO Television shows.
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We are thankful for all the medical professionals who are committed to helping our dancers perform their best and stay injury-free.
Dr. Claire Gross, MD, CAQSM
Jennifer Bentley, PT, DPT, OCS
Mary Bastian, MS, LAT, ATC
Gina Wojnar, DPT
Betsy Johnson MS ATC, Pilates
Leadership Council 2024-25
Executive Committee
President Helle LeRette
VP Communications Jennifer Malherbe
Secretary Ellen Tolstad
Treasurer Cyndalynn Tilley
Sarah Poulsen, Pilates
Ashley Hagensick, Sports Dietitian
Tony Kemmochi, PsyD
Learn more at
Leadership Council
Awards Chair Kathleen Gardner
Dancer Liaisons
Lesia Hunter
Jeanne Potucek
Julie Terry Shulimson
Membership Chair Anne Neeley
Nominating Chairs
Daniel Darger
Tami Hansen
Outreach Chair Doyle Clayburn
Park City Membership Chair Franki Loftus
Parliamentarian Susie Funk
Young Patrons Chair Kristina Keene
Adam Sklute
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
THE WILLAM CHRISTENSEN ARTISTIC DIRECTOR CHAIR
SPONSORED BY PEGGY BERGMANN
ADMINISTRATION AND FINANCE
Elizabeth Crawford chief financial officer
Misha Eady-Harbold director of company management & touring
Felicia Cowan director of human resources
Katreena Newman executive assistant
Jennifer Bailey senior accounting manager
Ashley Richardson accounting coordinator
ARTISTIC
Pamela Robinson-Harris principal rehearsal director
Jane Victorine Wood interim principal rehearsal director
Calvin Kitten
director of ballet west ii and rehearsal director
Bruce Caldwell rehearsal director and company archivist
Michele Gifford assistant rehearsal director
Reuben Lehr artistic operations manager/ assistant to the artistic director
Courtney Hellebuyck student rehearsal director
COSTUME PRODUCTION
Jason Hadley director of costume production
Cindy Farrimond costume shop manager
Barbara Arcolio head stitcher
Vicki Raincrow costume painter/dyer
Vanessa Startup stitcher
Michael Scolamiero
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
THE ELIZABETH SOLOMON EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR CHAIR
David Heuvel director of costume production emeritus
EDUCATION & OUTREACH
Peter Christie director of education and outreach
Dana Rossi
education associate / assistant director i can do
Heather Fryxell creator and founder movement mentor
Audrey Dodd
associate director movement mentor/adaptive dance
Shelly Cordova
assistant director senior steps/forward steps
Silas Campos
manager education and outreach virtual and technology programs
Shelly Cordova, Jenny Bradley, Ashley Creek, Lauren Devall, Audrey Dodd, Sofia Gorder, Jennifer Heighton, Wendee Fiedeldey-McCulloch, Daisy Jeffers, Amanda Kindt, Moisés Próspero, Anne Marie Smith, Elease Stice, Joshua Trader, Alicia Trump, Ashlee Vilos, Trisha Wilstead educators
EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
Andrew Goldberg senior director of external affairs
Angela Krull director of major gifts and corporate sponsorships
Dana Rimington director of communications and publications
Mika Seltenrich
marketing and revenue manager
Lisa Jensen retail sales and boutique manager
Jessica Magelsen foundations & government giving manager
Amy O'Connor annual giving manager
Deanna Richardson external affairs project manager
Beau Pearson photographer and videographer
Matthew Barrett graphic designer
Sierra Crawford Masuda external affairs database coordinator
Victoria Rimington digital marketing coordinator
FREDERICK QUINNEY LAWSON
BALLET WEST ACADEMY
Evelyn Cisneros-Legate director
Sarah Taylor director of business operations
Allison DeBona principal of peggy bergmann park city campus
Katherine Lawrence principal of jessie eccles
quinney ballet centre and trolley corners campuses
Heather Thackeray principal of utah county campus
Eunice Stafford
associate principal, trolley corners campus and student life manager
Catherine Batcheller principal faculty and artistic engagement coordinator
Courtney Hellebuyck principal faculty/student rehearsal director
Stacey Mahan
principal faculty and associate director of curriculum
Bridget Payne principal faculty and costume coordinator
James Payne principal faculty and trainee coordinator
Jeffrey Rogers principal faculty and men’s program director
Michael Waldrop full time faculty and contemporary program manager
Jordan Debona senior manager of student life and summer intensive coordinator
Jennifer Hildreth senior manager of academy operations and board liaison
Hannah Lowell
peggy bergmann park city campus administrator
Jenny Lowell trolley corners campus administrator
Nanette Reimschussel Chertudi utah county campus administrator
Amanda Kindt resident advisor
Madeline Franz, MaryClare Gehring, Stefany Jaurrieta, Sasha Lowell, Symonne Martelly, Chase Peterson, Kate Weeks, Marit van der Wolde-Trader administrative assistants
Hannah Argyle, Izzy Arrieta, Silver Barkes, Estella Birkenshaw, Liesel Blue, Jamie Butler, Bruce Caldwell, Claire Campbell, Emma Capen, Dantzel Cherry, Nanette Reimschussel
Chertudi, Natalie Desch, Hadriel Diniz, Ivy Drumm, Mariah Edmunds, Isabella Flanigan, Jennifer Fjeldsted, Solange Gomes, Sammy
Gomm, Tyler Gum, Hannah Higgs, David Huffmire, Daisey Jeffers, Calvin Kitten, Vera Kotova, Lindsey Larsen, Nicole Lawrence, Katelyn Milner-Packer, Sophia Nanni, Kendra Rangel, Ashleigh Richardson, Alesha Ramos, Autumn Ryskoski, Mary Ann Shaefer, Heidi Slagle, Connie Smith, Kramer Snead, Kristen Stringham, Scout Sutton, Samantha Taggart, Jessica Harston Thompson, Rex Tilton, Joshua Trader, Barbara Valles, Elizabeth Weldon, Ella Whitney, Hannah Willis, Jane Wood, Kyohei Yoshida instructors
Maggie Wright-Tesch u of u/bw joint trainee liaison
MUSIC
Jared Oaks
music director
Seretta Hart orchestra manager
Hope Dalton
principal academy and company pianist
Nicholas Maughan pianist
Rob Wood guest class pianist
Penelope Brown, Douglas Corbin, Adam Fifield, Brady Giles, Max Hall, Lisa Haddon, John Rukavina, Heidi Slagle, Aili Yu academy pianists
TECHNICAL PRODUCTION
Michael Andrew Currey director of production
Michael McCulloch
production stage manager
Liz Wiand
stage manager and production operations coordinator
Robert Clifford
technical director/ head carpenter
Ethan Daughton
assistant carpenter
Jeff F. Herbig properties master
James K. Larsen
lighting supervisor/ head electrician
Juliana Hedges
assistant electrician
Lizzie Fisher
wardrobe supervisor
Daniel Streed
assistant wardrobe supervisor
Yancey J. Quick wig master
I.A.T.S.E. Local 99 run of show crew
TICKETING AND SUBSCRIBER SERVICES
Jack E Stahl
associate director of technology and ticketing
Natalie Thorpe
senior manager of patron services
Brooke Christensen assistant manager of patron services
Jane Harris
patron services and group sales lead advisor
Ballet West is an American Guild of Musical Artists (AGMA), American Federation of Musicians (AFM), and International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) company.
To ensure the enjoyment of the majority of our patrons who arrive on time, and in deference to the artists, latecomers will not be admitted to the auditorium until there is an appropriate pause in the performance. During some productions, this pause may not occur until the end of the first act.
• All casting is subject to change.
• For your own safety and the safety of other patrons, please do not exit the Theatre before the house lights are up.
• Any use of cameras and recording equipment in the Theatre, which is not authorized by the management, is strictly prohibited.
• No babes in arms.
• No smoking is permitted in the auditorium.
• Outside food and beverages are not allowed in the auditorium; as a courtesy to all patrons in attendance, food consumption is discouraged in the theatre during the performance.
• Lost articles may be claimed at security.
• Anyone expecting emergency calls is urged to leave their seat locations and cell phones with the house manager.
• Please silence all electronic timepieces and cell phones for the period of the performance.
EMERGENCY EVACUATION INFORMATION
In the event of an emergency, please REMAIN SEATED and listen to information given by management and ushers.
ASSISTIVE LISTENING DEVICES
Janet Quinney Lawson Capitol Theatre offers assistive listening devices free of charge that may be checked out at the coat check counter located in the lobby.
Para garantizar el disfrute de la mayoría de nuestros asistentes que llegan a tiempo, y en deferencia a los artistas, no se permitirá el ingreso al auditorio a quienes lleguen tarde hasta que haya una pausa adecuada en la función. Durante algunas producciones, esta pausa puede no ocurrir hasta el final del primer acto.
• Todos los actores están sujetos a cambios.
• Por su propia seguridad y la seguridad de los demás asistentes no abandone el teatro antes de que se enciendan las luces de la sala.
• Está estrictamente prohibido el uso de cámaras y equipos de grabación
• en el teatro que no estén autorizados por la
• administración.
• No se permiten bebés en brazos.
• No se permite fumar en el auditorio.
• No se permite la entrada de alimentos ni bebidas del exterior al auditorio; como cortesía a todos los asistentes presentes, ni se permite el consumo de alimentos
• en el teatro durante la función.
• Los objetos perdidos se pueden reclamar en seguridad.
• Se insta a cualquier persona que espere llamadas de emergencia a que deje sus asientos y sus teléfonos móviles con el director de la sala.
• Por favor silencie todos los relojes electrónicos y teléfonos móviles durante el período de la función.
INFORMACIÓN SOBRE EVACUACIÓN DE EMERGENCIA
En caso de emergencia, PERMANEZCA SENTADO y escuche la información que le proporcionen la dirección y los acomodadores.
Janet Quinney Lawson Capitol Theatre ofrece dispositivos de ayuda auditiva gratuitos que se pueden retirar en el guardarropa ubicado en el vestíbulo.
Para garantizar el disfrute de la mayoría de nuestros clientes que llegan a tiempo, y en deferencia a los artistas, no se permitirá el ingreso al auditorio a quienes lleguen tarde hasta que haya una pausa apropiada en la presentación. Durante algunas producciones, esta pausa puede no ocurrir hasta el final del primer acto.
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