BALLET WEST RETURNS TO THE GARDEN BACK-BY-POPULAR DEMAND PERFORMANCES OF CLASSIC AND CONTEMPORARY WORKS SEPT. 10 AT RED BUTTE GARDEN
SALT LAKE CITY – Ballet West is returning to Red Butte Garden and Arboretum with performances back by popular demand, featuring internationally-recognized choreographer Gerald Arpino, alongside choreography by rising star Caili Quan. With its world premiere at Ballet West in June and an invitation to perform at the Kennedy Center a few weeks later, Quan’s Play on Impulse garnered rave reviews.
“An utter delight to watch, Quan fuses intricate walking patterns with rhythmic bursts of intensity, set to popular songs from a range of rock and pop artists such as The Velvet Underground, Deee-Lite, and Bjork,” according to Broadway World. “…this new work, which premiered earlier this month, will prove popular and be produced by other companies in short order.”
The program also includes two pieces by the late Gerald Arpino; Light Rain, a fusion of eastern and western music that capitalizes on the sensuality and elasticity of company dancers, and excerpts from his Kettentanz, an exciting classical suite of dances to the Polka’s Waltzes, and Gallops of Johann Straus Sr. and Johannes Mayer performed by members of Ballet West II.
“Red Butte is a wonderful community event in a casual, outdoor setting surrounded by the beauty and nature of Salt Lake,” says Artistic Director Adam Sklute. “Our programming is designed to move brightly along, giving the audience a flavor to the new and more contemporary works we do, but also the classic repertoire that is our backbone. It’s a diverse spectrum of works designed to give audiences, young and old, a joyous outdoor experience of art."
Prior to the performance, a reception will be held at 6:30 p.m. with the opportunity to meet Artistic Director Adam Sklute and Executive Director Michael Scolamiero. The event will also include food, drink and preferred seating starting at $100 per person.
DATE: Sept. 10, 2024 TIMES: Gates open 5 p.m., Academy Pre-Performance 6:30pm, Performance at 7 p.m. VIP Reception: 5:30 p.m.
LOCATION: Red Butte Garden, 300 Wakara Way, Salt Lake City
TICKETS: Starting at $50.00 can be purchased at redbuttegarden.org Recommended for ages 8 and up.
Season subscriptions for the 2024-25 season are still available, featuring the 80th anniversary of America’s First Nutcracker, four Utah premieres, and the return of Cinderella. Five-show packages start at just $156. Contact Ballet West at 801-869-6900 or visit www.balletwest.org.
PRESS INQUIRIES Dana Rimington, Director of Communications and Publications drimington@balletwest.org | 801-869-6918
ABOUT BALLET WEST
BALLET WEST, one of America’s leading ballet companies, under the artistic direction of Adam Sklute, has earned an international reputation for artistic innovation and excellence since its founding in 1963. For 60 years, the Salt Lake City-based Company has entertained and excited audiences in Utah and worldwide by presenting great classical ballets, historical masterpieces, including America’s first and longest-running version of The Nutcracker, and new cutting-edge creations with only the highest artistic and professional standards. The Company continues to build future ballet artists and audiences by providing classical ballet training through the Frederick Q. Lawson Ballet West Academy and its four campuses and more than 1,000 students. Ballet West also operates one of the largest outreach and education programs in the country which reaches over 148,000 children and adults throughout Utah and the Intermountain Region every year, the largest outreach program of its kind in the country. This performance is made possible with support from Salt Lake Zoo, Arts & Parks and Intermountain Health.
ABOUT RED BUTTE GARDEN
RED BUTTE GARDEN is one of the largest botanical gardens in the Intermountain West and, together with the University of Utah, is a state arboretum. The Garden has welcomed guests since 1985 and includes more than 21 acres of developed gardens and five miles of hiking trails winding through an extensive natural area. The Garden is renowned for its numerous plant collections, display gardens, award-winning horticulture-based educational programs, and a world-class Outdoor Concert Series. For more information, visit www.redbuttegarden.org.