BALLET WEST ANNOUNCES 40TH ANNIVERSARY LINEUP

allet West will begin its 2003-2004 season by celebrating 40 years of ballet.

“For 40 years, Ballet West has been proud to present the best of this delightful art form to Utah audiences and abroad,” said Jonas Kage, Ballet West Artistic Director, according to a press release. “Our 2003-04 season is a culmination of hard work, dedication, innovation and vision. I am thrilled to be a part of it.”

The commemorative season opens Sept. 26 with the Utah premiere of Kage’s newly staged production of “Giselle.”

Kage joined Ballet West as Artistic Director in 1997. Kage’s association with ballet as a dancer, choreographer and director has resulted in the company’s wide variety of works by renowned choreographers. Under his direction, Ballet West has performed works by George Balanchine, Glen Tetley, Hans van Manen, Val Caniporoli and William Forsythe.

“Giselle” is the unforgettable story of love and betrayal that has endured for more than 150 years (you may remember Utah Ballet’s production of “Giselle” from last year). A masterpiece of romantic ballet, audiences will likely be captivated by Ballet West artists as they portray a world of passion, duplicity and the saving power of love.

In late October, “A 40-Year FASCINATION” will feature the Utah premiere of Richard Tanner’s “Ancient Airs and Dances.” Also on the program are the outstanding “Theme & Variations” by George Balanchine and the return of William Forsythe’s highly popular “Artifact II.”

The holiday tradition of “The Nutcracker” begins Dec. 5. This popular production is the classic ballet that has delighted both the young and young at heart for more than a century.

The season will then continue in February with Kage’s version of the timeless classic “Sleeping Beauty.” Following will be the season finale, “40 Years of JUBILATION!” This is a four-ballet event featuring the Utah premiere of Glen Tetley’s “The Rite of Spring” as well as two Balanchine favorites—“Concerto Barocco” and “Tchaikovsky pas de deux.” The much-awaited return of Bruce Mark’s “Lark Ascending” will complete this breathtaking collection of ballets.

This season celebrates when William F. Christensen founded Ballet West in 1963 as the Utah Civic Ballet, and is the first American to choreograph full-length versions of “The Nutcracker,” “Coppelia” and “Cinderella.”

Ballet West will maintain a company of 40 artists for the 2003-2004 season. New promotions this year include Chrisitana Bennett to the position of soloist, Ross Bearden and Elye E. Olson from artists to demi-soloists and Sophia Priolo from first-year apprentice to second-year apprentice. New dancers joining Ballet West are Daniel Escudero from San Francisco Ballet, Aaron Orlowski from Nevada Ballet Theatre and Nicholas Scott from Norwegian National Ballet in Oslo, Norway.

Tickets to Ballet West’s Capitol Theatre performances range from $17-$55 and are available at ArtTix by calling 355-ARTS or at the Capitol Theatre ticket office.

he start of a new school year inevitably brings change—probably the most common one being the transition from relaxing tourist to hard-working student. This is no exception for members of Utah Ballet, the premier performing group of the University of Utah’s nationally renowned Department of Ballet. Diving head-first into a rigorous rehearsal schedule, the company is already preparing for its annual fall program.

William F. Christensen founded the Department of Ballet in 1951, the first of its kind in an American university. Utah Ballet is the resident company of Kingsbury Hall and has toured extensively throughout the Intermountain West. Each year, faculty members take turns acting as artistic director for the company.

Associate Professors Maureen Laird and Sharee Lane are the company’s co-artistic directors for the upcoming fall season. The season offers a mixed repertoire of various works by guest choreographers.

Jiang Qi, former principal dancer at Ballet West, is currently setting a work to the spring section of “The Four Seasons” by Vivaldi. The style of the piece is classical/contemporary.

Other guest choreographers will include Eloy Barragan, assistant professor of dance from the University of California-Irvine, and directors Jean-Philippe Malaty and Tom Mossbrucker of Aspen Santa Fe Ballet, who will set the famous balcony pas de deux from “Romeo and Juliet.” According to Lane, the program will feature “an additional pas de deux or pas de trois” that is yet to be determined.

Utah Ballet is made up of 26 dancers, and approximately half of them entered this year. Laird says she hopes to expose the new members to lots of dancing experience in a professional company atmosphere. This season, Laird aims to invite renowned choreographers and help those students who may feel a little weaker to gain confidence in themselves.

If you’ve never been to a ballet before, be sure to take advantage of all the talent right here on campus. Come on out and support your fellow dancing Utes this fall at Kingsbury Hall—and be prepared for an impressive performance.

Utah Ballet performs Nov. 20-22 at Kingsbury Hall. Tickets are available by calling (801) 581-7100 or at the Kingsbury Hall ticket office. Student discounts are available.
marissa@red-mag.com