Promotions and company roster announced for 56th season

SALT LAKE CITY, UT—Ballet West Artistic Director Adam Sklute announced the roster for the 56^th season today, which includes two prominent promotions within the company, and five new hires–most being elevated from the Ballet West Academy system.

Soloist Alexander MacFarlan, who joined Ballet West II in 2007 from Nashville, Tennessee, will be promoted to first soloist. Demi-soloist Hadriel Diniz, who started at Ballet West in 2015 from Minas Gerais, Brazil will become a soloist.

“These two men are elegant and dedicated artists,” said Sklute. “They have proven themselves repeatedly with their clean and powerful dancing, gentlemanly and supportive partnering, and wonderful theatricality. It has been my joy to be able to nurture their careers thus far, and I am looking forward to their on-going progress as both have so much potential for the future.”

From Ballet West II, Joseph Lynch from Cumberland, Rhode Island; Jake Preece from Vancouver, Canada; Victoria Vassos from Arbedo, Switzerland; and Jordan DePina from Seal Beach, California will all begin the new season as corps artists. Both Vassos and DePina studied with the Ballet West Academy before joining Ballet West II. Finally, joining from American Ballet Theatre Studio Company, Grace Anne Pierce from New York City has also been hired as a corps artist.

A bevy of new dancers are being hired for Ballet West II, including three from the Ballet West Academy: Jazz Bynum from Jersey City, New Jersey; Ryan Lenkey from Wheeling, West Virginia; and Claire Wilson from New York City. From outside the Ballet West Academy, Alladson Barreto joins from Natal, Brazil; Isabella Martinez-Corridon from Westport, Connecticut; Connor Hammond from Coos Bay, Oregon; and Ginabel Peterson from Philadephia, Pennsylvania will also join the second company.

MEDIA CONTACT
Joshua Jones
801-414-4101 | jjones@balletwest.org