Ballet West’s new season will feature vampires, star-crossed lovers and of course a ‘Nutcracker’ – Salt Lake Tribune

Ballet Wests upcoming season will feature Dracula for Halloween; The Nutcracker for Christmas; and Romeo and Juliet for Valentines Day among other productions.

This is a season of enormous productions, and small, earthly stories, said artistic director Adam Sklute. Only a company with extreme versatility and boundless talent and energy could present these works in one season.

The 2020-21 schedule includes six productions, one more than Ballet West normally performs. In addition, a seventh production will feature members of Ballet West II and Ballet West Academy.

Dracula (Oct. 23-31) Ballet West last performed choreographer Ben Stevensons family-friendy version of Bram Stokers vampire tale almost 10 years ago.

Almost Tango/Nine Sinatra Songs/Return to a Strange Land (Nov. 6-14) The triple bill features works by Ballet West resident choreographer Nicolo Fonte, Ji Kyli and Twyla Tharp.

The Nutcracker (Dec. 11-26) The holiday tradition continues, 76 years after Ballet Wests late founder, William Christensen, staged the first full-length version of this ballet in the United States.

Romeo and Juliet (Feb. 12-20, 2021) This version of Shakespeares story of ill-fated romance was choreographed by Michael Smuin, an early student of Christensens.

Glass Pieces/Belles-Lettres/Rodeo (April 9-17, 2021) The seasons second triple bill includes ballets by Jerome Robbins, Justin Peck and Agnes de Mille.

Choreographic Festival (May 6-8, 2021) The program will feature the world premiere of a work by Scottish Ballet resident choreographer Sophie Laplane and a collaboration between the Sundance Institutes Music Film Program and Ballet West principal artist Emily Adams.

The Little Mermaid (April 23-24, 2021) This one-hour, family-friendly ballet the latest in the Family Classic Series will be performed by Ballet West II and students of the Ballet West Academy.

Season tickets and four-show packages are available at balletwest.org or by calling 801-869-6920. Single-show tickets go on sale in September.

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Ballet West's new season will feature vampires, star-crossed lovers and of course a 'Nutcracker' - Salt Lake Tribune