Dance
Ballet West goes east for a high-stepping Broadway and Beyond program – Apr 12, 2026
Emily Adams and Hadriel Diniz in Christopher Wheeldon’s After the Rain at Ballet West. Photo: Lauren Wattenburg
Ballet West captured an energetic New York state of mind with “West Side Story: Broadway and Beyond.” This mixed-repertory program, which opened Friday night at the Capitol Theatre, featured four Utah premieres, examining the intersection and divergence of ballet and musical theater.
The program opened with Jerome Robbins’ Antique Epigraphs, loosely inspired by Greek mythology, but exploring forms and representation of ancient cultures. Robbins’ movements in … Read More
Sklute’s 20th anniversary to bring a mix of Ballet West favorites in 2026-27 – Mar 04, 2026
Ballet West’s Dracula will return in Ballet West’s 2026-27 season. Photo by Beau Pearson with Chase O’Connell and Emily Adams.
Ballet West announced their 2026-27 season Tuesday, offering a collection of community favorites and premieres chosen by artistic director Adam Sklute to honor his 20th anniversary with the company.
Opening the season October 23-31 is Dracula, choreographer Ben Stevenson’s retelling of Bram Stoker’s novel in its third revival at Ballet West this decade.
Following in November is Rolling with The Stones, a triple-bill … Read More
Ballet West creates a moving and magical Neverland in “Peter Pan” premiere – Feb 14, 2026
William Lynch as Peter and Jenna Rae Herrera as Wendy in Ballet West’s Peter Pan. Photo: Lauren Wattenburg
Ballet West escaped to Neverland Friday night with the opening of Peter Pan at the Capitol Theatre. Based on J.M. Barrie’s original tale of a daring boy who wouldn’t grow up, choreographer Trey McIntyre explores themes of childhood and belonging set in a magical world of fairies, pirates, mermaids, and adventure.
This is the Ballet West premiere of Peter Pan, and it is a … Read More
Ballet West’s “Nutcracker” works its holiday magic once again – Dec 07, 2025
Jenna Rae Herrera as the Sugar Plum Fairy and Jordan Veit as the Cavalier in Ballet West’s The Nutcracker. Photo: Ross Richey/BW
Ballet West kicked off the holiday season with (surprise!) The Nutcracker Friday night at the Janet Quinney Lawson Capitol Theatre. This annual classic with historic choreography, accomplished dancers, and Tchaikovsky’s iconic score continues to delight families throughout Utah.
This holiday tradition, originally choreographed in 1944 by Willam Christensen, was first performed in Utah in 1955. Based on E.T.A. Hoffmann’s novella … Read More
Ballet West shows what love’s got to do with it in high-contrast “Midsummer” double-bill – Nov 09, 2025
Jonas Malinka-Thompson as Bottom in a scene from Frederick Ashton’s The Dream, presented by Ballet West Friday night. Photo: Ross Richey
Love—its presence, absence, and manipulation through wedding preparations, courtship, and devotion—dominated Ballet West’s double-bill Friday night at the Janet Quinney Lawson Capitol Theatre.
The program opened with Bronislava Nijinska’s Les Noces (The Wedding). Originally created in 1923 for the Ballets Russes with music by Igor Stravinsky, Ballet West first staged this work two years ago. Rather than a warm, joyful celebration, … Read More
A rich and exuberant “Romeo and Juliet” opens the season for Ballet West – Oct 25, 2025
Hadriel Diniz and Amy Potter star in Ballet West’s Romeo and Juliet. Photo: Ross Richey
Ballet West opened their 2025-26 season at the Capitol Theatre Friday night with Romeo and Juliet, a retelling of William Shakespeare’s tragic romance of star-crossed lovers from feuding families, choreographed by Michael Smuin with Serge Prokofiev’s iconic score.
Rather than foreshadowing the eventual misfortune, Smuin’s take on Romeo and Juliet explores the spark and attraction of infatuation and the comedy and friendship of the characters before leading … Read More
BW dancers show impressive choreographic chops in “Works from Within” – May 15, 2025
Lilian Casscells and Adrian Fry in Ballet West’s Lingering Echoes. Photo: Ross Richey
Ballet West is finishing its season with “Works From Within,” which opened Wednesday night at the Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center.
This program, which alternates yearly with the company’s “Choreographic Festival, has long been an incubator for new works by Ballet West dancers and an important part of the season since Adam Sklute was hired as artistic director in 2007. This year’s program includes premieres by returning choreographers Emily … Read More
Ballet West delivers a varied and exquisite Stravinsky feast – Apr 05, 2025
Ballet West performed Igor Stravinsky’s Rite of Spring Friday night. Photo: Beau Pearson
Ballet West continues its season with “The Rite of Spring,” Friday night at the Lawson Capitol Theatre. This triple-bill program explores the music of Igor Stravinsky while also examining the commonalities and differences of works created over the span of a century.
The program opened with the Utah premiere of Jiří Kylián’s Symphony of Psalms. Kylián’s choreography is kinetic, requiring … Read More
Ballet West II takes the spotlight for a light-hearted family “Aladdin” – Mar 29, 2025
Ballet West II presents two more Aladdin performances on Saturday. Photo: BW
Ballet West II and the Ballet West Academy have their moment to shine in the company’s Family Series production of Aladdin.
Ballet West II is the small pre-professional corps that often performs smaller roles in mainstage Ballet West productions like The Nutcracker, but they get to perform the leads in Aladdin. Ballet West Academy is the school for training future ballet dancers of all ages and levels.
Choreographed by Pamela … Read More
Ballet West serves up humor and visual splendor with a fresh “Cinderella” – Feb 08, 2025
Amy Potter and Hadriel Diniz in Ballet West’s Cinderella. Photo: Beau Pearson
Ballet West’s Cinderella is a timely work for February, both brightening up the winter gloom, and adding a touch of romance for Valentine’s Day.
Cinderella is the story of a mistreated young woman who, through help from a fairy godmother, goes in secret to a royal ball, falls in love with a prince, and lives happily ever after. Many versions of Cinderella focus on the romance, but Sir Frederick … Read More
