PARK CITY CAMPUS ANNOUNCEMENT
BALLET WEST ACADEMY ANNOUNCES NEW PRINCIPAL AND LOCATION FOR PARK CITY CAMPUS
The Frederick Quinney Lawson Ballet West Academy, one of the most prestigious ballet schools in the United States, has hired Ballet West First Soloist Allison DeBona as the Principal of the Peggy Bergmann Park City Campus in Summit County, Utah. The campus will expand and relocate nearby to 2700 Rasmussen Road this September. DeBona will begin teaching when the new state-of-the-Art location opens September 27th, 2021.
“Allison was one of the very first dancers I hired for Ballet West when I arrived almost 15 years ago. It has been my joy to work with her as she has become a major performing artist and dance educator.” Said Adam Sklute, Ballet West Artistic Director, “I admire Allison’s knowledge and great commitment, not only to Ballet West, but to ballet, dance, and theater.” Sklute adds, “Allison is a visionary and I am so proud and honored to have her join our Academy staff where she will bring her passion, artistry, and great knowledge to a new generation of artists.”
DeBona has been featured in Dance Magazine, Pointe Magazine, and on the cover of Dance Teacher Magazine. In recent years, she has become a respected teacher around the nation as the owner of the summer intensive dance program, artÉmotion. Additionally, DeBona played a critical role in establishing a partnership between Ballet West Academy’s Summer Intensive and artÉmotion for the Choreographic Workshop since 2017, and also the summer intensive series offered in St. George, Utah for the first time earlier this year.
“This is an exciting transition and opportunity for me,” said DeBona. “I am really thankful to Adam and Evelyn [Cisneros-Legate, Director, Ballet West Academy] for seeing this as a natural evolution of what I have been working towards for several years. I understand the legacy of this Company, and am honored by the trust they have placed in me to expand the brand and train young dancers.”
DeBona has a Bachelor’s of Science in ballet from Indiana University. She is married to Principal Artist Rex Tilton and together they have a three-year old son, Ajax.
The new location, just two miles north from the current facility is currently enrolling for fall and will feature four studios: two dedicated to ballet and two designed for tap, jazz, and contemporary dance styles. This new campus, in a serene mountain environment will provide comprehensive dance training and the highest level of instruction by skilled faculty.
Cisneros-Legate added, “For nearly 60 years, Ballet West has had a deep commitment to ballet education, guided by the legacy of our founder, Mr. Willam Christensen. In 2016, the Company expanded into the Wasatch back, and today’s announcement of Ms. DeBona further extends our commitment to world-class dance instruction in that community. I look forward to working with Allison and providing the finest ballet, contemporary, tap, jazz and musical theater training in Utah”
Upcoming Park City Campus Events
- Grand Opening | Monday, September 27th – 3pm
- Open House | Saturday, October 9th – 10am
