Ballet West Tickets | Schedule for 2024/2025 Events

Ballet West

Ballet West was founded in 1963 as Utah Civic Ballet by Willam F. Christensen and Glenn Walker Wallace. The ballet company was renamed Ballet West in 1968 to represent the Western US and not just Utah. The official school of Ballet West, Ballet West Academy, is in Salt Lake. 

Many notable ballet dancers like Bart Cook, Kent Stowell, Finis Jhung, Tomm Ruud, Victoria Morgan, etc., were dancers from the Ballet West Company. 

The ballet company schedule shows every year to entertain the audience. Go through our website to find more details. 

What Led to Founding Ballet West?

Ballet West began as a university dance school and grew into one of the leading ballet companies in the world. Willam F. Christensen is the core of Ballet West. His experience, vision, and dedication made the ballet company a reality and took it to great heights. 

Willam F. Christensen returned to Utah (his native land) in 1949 to choreograph for the summer festival productions organized by the University of Utah. The university’s president, Ray Olpin, offered Christensen the position of a ballet professor (when he successfully choreographed for the festivals for two more years). 

The University Theatre Ballet was established in 1952 to give students a chance to perform on stage for the community. This was the first ballet school in an American university and laid the foundation for many more to come over the years. 

After years, The University Theatre Ballet and the Utah Symphony collaborated to perform The Nutcracker (in 1955). The show became so famous that it is still a part of Utah’s Christmas celebrations. 

The Establishment of Utah Civic Ballet

The success inspired Christensen and Glenn Walker Wallace, the First Lady of the Arts, to apply for a grant from the Ford Foundation and set up Utah Civic Ballet in 1963. The ballet company went on several tours in the next few years to strengthen its presence in the region and promote ballet. The company also began a residency program in 1970 in Aspen. 

Ballet West went on its first European tour in 1971. Bruce Marks joined the company in 1976 as a co-director and became the artistic director in 1978 after Christensen’s retirement. John Hart joined the company in 1985 as the new artistic director. 

Ballet West continues to have talented dancers with expertise in diverse styles. You can watch classic reproductions and original ballet shows performed by the company each year.  Check out our website for more information.