Ballet West is an American ballet company based in Salt Lake City, Utah. It was founded in 1963 as the Utah Civic Ballet by Willam F. Christensen, the company's first artistic director, and Glenn Walker Wallace, who served as its first president. Christensen had previously established the first ballet department in an American university at the University of Utah in 1951.
In 1968, the Federation of Rocky Mountain States chose the company to represent that group, and by extension, to represent the western United States. Due to that choice, the group's name was changed to Ballet West. This is not to be confused with Ballet West in Taynuilt, Scotland.
The Ballet West Academy is the official school of Ballet West and is located in Salt Lake City.
Ballet West was featured in the reality TV series Breaking Pointe in the Summer of 2012 and 2013 aired on the CW Network, part of a BBC Production.
History of Ballet West Ballet West was established in Salt Lake City in 1963. Willam F. Christensen was the company's first artistic director, co-founding the company together with Utah's “First Lady of the Arts” Glenn Walker Wallace. In 1951, Christensen had established the first ballet department in an American university at The University of Utah and with the tireless assistance of Mrs. Enid Cosgriff this program grew into the Utah Civic Ballet, Ballet West's first incarnation. But this was not the first ballet company Willam Christensen's founded. Along with his brothers Lew and Harold, Christensen made history by establishing the oldest ballet company in the western United States, the San Francisco Ballet. There he went on to create the first full-length American productions of Coppélia, Swan Lake, and The Nutcracker, which remains in Ballet West's repertoire to this day.
A 20th Century ballet pioneer, Christensen developed a distinctly American and theatrical repertoire for his company based on his early training in Utah and New York City as well as his years traversing the American Vaudeville circuit. He also built a strong connection to the works of George Balanchine. In 1975 Christensen invited the great American dancer Bruce Marks to join him as Ballet West's Co-Artistic Director. Marks became Artistic Director in 1978 when Christensen retired. Under Marks’ direction, the company presented its first full production of Swan Lake and it earned a reputation for developing emerging choreographers of the time. Also during this period Marks made history, along with his wife, the acclaimed Danish Ballerina, Toni Lander, by presenting the first American full-length production of Abdallah by renowned 19th Century Danish choreographer, August Bournonville. John Hart, CBE, former dancer, administrator, and Assistant Director of The Royal Ballet in England succeeded Marks as Artistic Director of Ballet West In 1985. Under his leadership, the company's repertoire was expanded to include more well-loved 19th Century classics such as The Sleeping Beauty. Hart further enriched the company's repertoire of ballets with the works of many early 20th Century masters, most notably the great English choreographer, Sir Frederick Ashton. From 1985 to 1996, Hart engaged San Francisco-based Val Caniparoli as Ballet West's resident choreographer. Dancer and choreographer Jonas Kåge served as Artistic Director from 1997 to 2006. During this time Kåge maintained Ballet West's repertoire of classics while revitalizing its profile with notable late 20th Century choreographers such as Christopher Bruce, Hans van Manen, Glen Tetley and William Forsythe.
Artistic directors The founding artistic director, Willam Christensen, retired in 1978. He was succeeded by Bruce Marks, who had been co-artistic director since 1975. Starting in 1985, the company's third artistic director was John Hart, CBE, a former dancer, administrator, and assistant director of The Royal Ballet. From 1997 through 2006, the position belonged to Jonas Kåge, a dancer and choreographer.
The company's fifth and current artist director is Adam Sklute, who has served in that capacity since 2007. Sklute was dancer, ballet master and associate director with The Joffrey Ballet.
Dance company Dancers with Ballet West as of August 2025 include:
Principal Dancers Name Nationality Training Joined Ballet West Promoted to Principal Emily Adams United States School of American BalletStudio MaestroBallet TechniquePrinceton Ballet 2007 2015 Katlyn Addison National Ballet School of Canada, Quinte Ballet School of Canada, Pacific Northwest Ballet School, Boston ballet, and Houston Ballet Ben Stevenson Academy 2010 2021 Hadriel Dinz Brazil Guiomar Boaventura at the Vortice Escola de Dancas 2015 2021 Adrian Fry United States Omaha Theater Ballet SchoolSchool of American BalletPacific Northwest Ballet School 2010 2017 Tyler Gum United States Ballet Society of Colorado SpringsPacific Northwest Ballet School 2010 2023 David Huffmire United States Ballet West Academy 2018 2024 Jenna Rae Herrera United States She trained under Cynthia Young, Lawrence Blake, and Randall Graham 2010 2021 Amy Potter Nutmeg Conservatory for the Arts 2012, 2021 2022 Jordan Veit Pacific Northwest Ballet School 2013 2022
Soloists Name Nationality Training Joined Ballet West Promoted to Soloist Dominic Ballard Australia Australian Ballet School 2017 2025 Vinicius LimaBrazilBallet West Academy20202025 Rylee Ann RogersUnited StatesThe School of American Ballet and the Professional Performing Arts High School20222025 Victoria VassosSwitzerland, GreeceStaatliche Ballettschule Berlin20192023
Demi-soloists Name Nationality Training Joined Ballet West Promoted to Demi-Soloist Lillian CasscellsUnited StatesThe School of American Ballet20172024 Jacob HancockUnited StatesBallet West Academy20222025 Joseph LynchUnited StatesThe Rock School for Dance Education and Boston Ballet School. 20192025 Nicole FannéyUnited StatesInternational Ballet Academy, Paris Opera Ballet School20202023 Lexi McCloudUnited StatesMOGA Conservatory of Dance20242025 Jake Preece Canada Goh Ballet AcademyPacific Northwest Ballet School 2019 2022 Anisa SinteralUnited States2015, 20212025 Loren WaltonUnited StatesBallet West Academy20222025
Corps de Ballet
Olivia Book Alexis Bull Jazz Khai Bynum Kai Casperson Kye Cooley Isabella Corridon Anderson Duhan Jaya Dhand Maren Florence Robert Fowler Lund Fuller Victor Galeana Mikayla Gyfteas Tea Hinchley James Jobson-Larkin Schuyler Lian William Lynch Jonas Malinka-Thompson Claire Spainhour Kyra Stafford
Ballet West II, Second Company Artists
Carly Allyn Calder Feinstein Adrian Fite Pieter Gunning Callia Herbert Mirin Hirano Melanie McIntire Mario Mery Sophia Nanni Aubri Parker Mateo Salinas Zoe Wilson Annalise Wood
Notable Dancers
+NameRankDate Joined Date LeftBeckanne SiskPrincipal20112022Chase O'Connell Principal20132022Allison DebonaFirst Soloist20072022Christopher SellersFirst Soloist20062019Christopher RuudPrincipal19982019Rex TiltonPrincipal20082022Kathrine LawrencePrincipal20042021Elizabeth WeldonSoloist20092018Jeff RogersPrincipal19802000Max Hall BW II20022010Silver BarkesCorps de Ballet20042012Jane WoodPrincipal19812001
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