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Ballet West February 1 + 2, 2019 • 7:30 pm Royal Theatre Running time: 1 hour, 48 minutes (including two intermissions) The Royal Theatre is located on the traditional lands of the Lekwungen peoples, also known as the Esquimalt and Songhees Nations. We extend our appreciation for the opportunity to live, create, and perform on this territory.
About the Works Sweet and Bitter (21 mins)
White Swan Pas de Deux from Swan Lake (8 mins)
Choreography: África Guzmán Music: Ezio Bosso, The London Cellos, Turin String Quartet* Costume Design: David Heuvel Original Lighting: Jim French Lighting Recreation: Joseph R. Walls Dancers: (Friday, February 1) Emily Adams, Rex Tilton, Katlyn Addison, Jenna Rae Herrera, Chelsea Keefer, Alexander MacFarlan, Joshua Shutkind, Jordan Veit (Saturday, February 2): Beckanne Sisk, Chase O’Connell, Katlyn Addison, Chelsea Keefer, Katherine Lawrence, Alexander MacFarlan, Joshua Shutkind, Jordan Veit
Choreography: Adam Sklute after Marius Petipa Music: Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky Costume & Set Design: Peter Cazalet Lighting Recreation: Joseph R. Walls Dancers: (Friday, Feb. 1) Katherine Lawrence, Christopher Ruud; (Saturday, Feb. 2) Arolyn Williams, Rex Tilton
WORLD PREMIERE: May 24, 2018, Ballet West National Choreographic Festival, Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center, Jeanne Wagner Theatre, Salt Lake City, UT “Starting from music as my main source of inspiration, in Ezio Bosso's score I was able to find the strength and sensitivity that I wanted to develop in Sweet and Bitter, transforming the most classic lines and playing with the limits of gravity.” África Guzmán *Composed and conducted by Ezio Bosso. Performed by Ezio Bosso, The London Cellos, and the Turin String Quartet. © Sony Italy
– Intermission –
– Pause –
Black Swan Pas de Deux from Swan Lake (10 mins) Choreography: Adam Sklute after Marius Petipa Music: Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky Costume & Set Design: Peter Cazalet Lighting Recreation: Joseph R. Walls Dancers: (Friday, Feb. 1) Beckanne Sisk, Chase O’Connell; (Saturday, Feb. 2) Emily Adams, Adrian Fry
– Intermission –
About the Works (cont’d) Fox on the Doorstep (29 mins) Created in loving memory of my father, Lorenzo Fonte. Choreography: Nicolo Fonte Music: Ólafur Arnalds, Harry Escott, Jóhann Jóhannsson* Costume Design: David Heuvel Original Lighting: Jim French Lighting Recreation: Joseph R. Walls Scenic Design: Jim French and Nicolo Fonte Dancers: Emily Adams, Chelsea Keefer, Katherine Lawrence, Gabrielle Salvatto, Beckanne Sisk, Arolyn Williams, Adrian Fry, Tyler Gum, Alexander MacFarlan, Chase O’Connell, Rex Tilton, Jordan Veit
WORLD PREMIERE: May 19, 2017, Ballet West National Choreographic Festival, George S. and Dolores Doré Eccles Theater, Salt Lake City, UT “Why is the measure of love loss?” -Jeanette Winterson *“Brandon” from the Harry Escott album Shame. Used by permission of Sony Music Entertainment, and Sony ATV, publisher. “Flight From The City” from the Jóhann Jóhannsson album Orphée. Used by permission of Deutsche Grammophone, Berlin, and Universal Music Publishing Group. All rights reserved. “Poland”, “Out to Sea”, and “Everything Must Change” from the Ólafur Arnalds album Another Happy Day. Written and performed by Ólafur Arnalds. Published by DIMS Film, LLC / Molly Girls Songs. Courtesy of Erased Tapes Records Ltd. Used by special permission of Sony ATV and Warner/Chappel, publishers, and Erased Tape Records.
About Ballet West From Balanchine to Bournonville and 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 unexpected as the Rocky Mountain region it represents. Ballet West has toured the world several times over presenting the very best in American classical ballet. Ballet West was established in Salt Lake City in 1963. Willam F. Christensen was the company’s first artistic director, cofounding 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 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 his evergreen production of The Nutcracker, which remains in Ballet West’s repertoire to this day. With 42 company members, 15 second company members, and a thriving academy that trains dancers of all ages, many of whom have gone on to professional careers with Ballet West and companies around the world, Ballet West ranks among the top professional ballet companies in America. Since its inception, the Company has had five artistic directors — its founder Willam Christensen, Bruce Marks, John Hart, Jonas Kåge and currently Adam Sklute, each of whom has helped to build Ballet West’s unique and expansive profile. For more than 50 years, Willam Christensen and Ballet West have developed and influenced innumerable great artists in the ballet world. Some notable figures include Bart Cook, Finis Jhung, Jay Jolley, Victoria Morgan, Tomm Ruud, Michael Smuin, Richard Tanner, and Kent Stowell. With an eclectic and ever expanding outlook, Ballet West is truly an American pioneer in the world of dance.
Creatives’ Biographies ADAM SKLUTE, ARTISTIC DIRECTOR 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 most recently Utah Diversity Connection’s Business Award for outstanding commitment to diversity initiatives.
MICHAEL SCOLAMIERO, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Michael Scolamiero joined Ballet West in 2017 after an extensive international search led by Michael Kaiser, President Emeritus of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. Mr. Scolamiero previously served as Executive Director of Miami City Ballet for three years, during which time the organization achieved a significant reduction in debt, as well as robust growth in ticket revenue, contributions, and touring income. Prior to Miami City Ballet, Mr. Scolamiero was Pennsylvania Ballet’s Executive Director for 17 years, the longest tenure in the Company’s history and among the longest of any leader of a major ballet company. During his tenure, Mr. Scolamiero led the organization’s first capital campaign that raised $11.9 million (against a $10 million goal) to build an endowment and fund repertoire expansion. At Ballet West, Mr. Scolamiero is set to implement a newly completed strategic plan and excited to guide a growing and robust Company.
ÁFRICA GUZMÁN, CHOREOGRAPHER, Sweet and Bitter África Guzmán was born in Madrid, Spain. She began her training with her mother at her ballet school and continued at the Escuela del Ballet Nacional de España. In 1988, she joined Compañía Nacional de Danza directed by Maya Plisetskaya where she was soon promoted to Principal Dancer under the artistic direction of Nacho Duato. África also danced with the Nederlands Dans Theater for a few years before returning to CND. África’s artistic career includes working with numerous choreographers such as Jiři Kylian, William Forsythe, Mats Ek, Ohad Naharin, Paul Lightfoot and Sol Leon, Hans Van Manen, Jorma Elo, Johan Inger, and many more. Her talents have led her to dance in over 30 countries, as well as perform for film and television. In 2000, África presented her first choreographed work in Madrid for the Choreographic Workshop of Compania Nacional de Danza. Her choreographed works have led her to create pieces for the Alvin Ailey School and Joffrey Ballet School in New York, and the Conservatorio Profesional de Danza Carmen Amaya and Ballet Joven África Guzmán in Madrid. África played an integral role in a multitude of Nacho Duato’s works and now stages his ballets for companies all around the globe. África is the Artistic Director of Escuela de Ballet África Guzmán, and as a guest teacher has been invited to The Academy of Performing Arts in Prague, Ballet Nacional SODRE in Montevideo under the direction of Julio Bocca, the School of Oregon Ballet Theatre in Portland, the Bolshoi Ballet Academy in Moscow, the Oklahoma City Ballet in Oklahoma, the Finnish National Ballet in Helsinki, Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, and the A&A Ballet in Chicago. Recently, she was invited to take part as a teacher and choreographer for the reality show FAME, which is broadcast live on the television network #Cero of Movistar. Her classes are having a great impact on audiences, being the most viewed on both live broadcast and YouTube.
Creatives’ Biographies (cont’d) NICOLO FONTE, CHOREOGRAPHER, Fox on the Doorstep Choreographer Nicolo Fonte has created over 40 new works for dance companies spanning the globe, garnering praise and generating excitement for his daring and theatrical approach to dance. The Australian Ballet, Pennsylvania Ballet, and The Dutch National Ballet, among many others, all have works of his in their repertoire. Whether made to Ravel’s brash Bolero or the quiet intricacy of a Bach violin piece, Fonte ballets have common ground: “The choreography is inventive, creating expressive original shapes built on an undercurrent of implicit
human relationships.” (Foyer/Dance Europe) “What impresses the most is that his choreography is obviously the result of a personal reflection — distinctly and unmistakably Fonte, proof of a rare quality.” (Michel Odin/Danse) Well-known to Salt Lake City audiences for a stunning roster of works including The Immeasurable Cadences Within, Bolero, Presto, Almost Tango and The Rite of Spring, Fonte is recognized throughout the world as a choreographer equally comfortable with classical and contemporary dance forms. Mr. Fonte has been the Resident Choreographer for Ballet West since the 2012/2013 Season and is excitedly looking forward to future collaborations for years to come.
Ballet West Artists
Emily Adams
Katyln Addison
Adrian Fry
Tyler Gum
Jenna Rae Herrera
Chelsea Keefer
Katherine Lawrence
Alexander MacFarlan
Emily Neale
Chase O’Connell
Christopher Ruud
Gabrielle Salvatto
Joshua Shutkind
Beckanne Sisk
Rex Tilton
Jordan Veit
Arolyn Williams
Adam Sklute Artistic Director The Willam Christensen Artistic Director Chair Sponsored by Peggy Bergmann
Michael Scolamiero Executive Director The Elizabeth Solomon Executive Director Chair
PRINCIPAL ARTISTS Emily Adams – Adrian Fry – Katherine Lawrence – Chase O’Connell Christopher Ruud – Beckanne Sisk – Rex Tilton – Arolyn Williams FIRST SOLOISTS Katlyn Addison – Allison DeBona – Tyler Gum – Sayaka Ohtaki Beau Pearson – Christopher Sellars SOLOISTS Katie Critchlow – Jenna Rae Herrera – Chelsea Keefer Alexander MacFarlan – Jordan Veit DEMI-SOLOISTS Lindsay Bond – Hadriel Diniz – Trevor Naumann, Emily Neale Gabrielle Salvatto – Joshua Whitehead ARTISTS Paige Adams - Dominic Ballard – Kimberly Ballard – Lillian Casscells – Kyle Davis Olivia Gusti – Lucas Horns – David Huffmire – Amber Miller – Ryo Munakata Kazlyn Nielsen – Oliver Oguma – Jordan Richardson – Joshua Shutkind Anisa Sinteral – Ronald Tilton – Kristina Weimer BALLET WEST II Beau Chesivoir – Jordan DePina – Cy Doherty – Brigitte Edwards – Nicole Fannéy Robert Fowler – Noel Jensen – Vinicius Lima – Savannah Lyle Joseph Lynch – Ashleigh Richardson – Alexandra Terry – Victoria Vassos – Severina Wong ARTISTIC STAFF Jared Oaks Music Director Sponsored by the Barbara Barrington Jones Family Foundation and Kathie and Charles Horman Pamela Robinson Harris Principal Ballet Master
Kimberly Klearman Director of Production
David Heuvel Director of Costume Production
Jane Victorine Wood Ballet Master
Michael McCulloch Production Stage Manager
Calvin Kitten Director of Ballet West II and Assistant Ballet Master
Bruce Caldwell Ballet Master/Archivist
Peggy Dolkas Associate Director of Ballet West II
Sarah Taylor Associate Director of Artistic Operations
Lindsey Gander Production Management Coordinator
Cristin Carlin Assistant to the Artistic Director
Website: www.balletwest.org. Follow us! Facebook / Ballet West Instagram / balletwest1 Twitter @balletwest1
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