Ballet West to Kick Off 50th Anniversary Season with THE FIREBIRD, Begin. 11/8

Ballet West's 50th Anniversary year opens with a program that honors its roots while embracing the new. Held at the birthplace of Ballet West - Kingsbury Hall - the Company's 50th kicks off November 8, 9 and 13-16 with the revival of Ballet West Founder Willam Christensen's colorful and dramatic The Firebird, danced to Igor Stravinsky's legendary score. Also on the program is George Balanchine's playful Who Cares?, a joyous mix of Gershwin tunes and classical ballet, and Petite Mort, Jiri Kylian's sensual masterpiece, featured on the first season of television's "Breaking Pointe."

"Bringing back Willam Christensen's legendary The Firebird is my tribute to this great man who founded our company and started us on a path of artistic exploration and excellence," said Ballet West Artistic Director Adam Sklute. "Mr. C was the visionary who began Ballet West, and his mesmerizing version of The Firebird is exciting and fascinating. And with the help of Bené Arnold and Bruce Caldwell, I am thrilled to present some of the original concepts that were never seen by audiences."

Danced to Igor Stravinsky's renowned score, Christensen's The Firebird has not been seen since 1980. This major revival program of Mr. C's classic includes the complete reconstruction of scenery and costumes, staying true to the original designs by Ron Crosby which were never created, due to budget constraints, when The Firebird had its company premiere in 1967.

"The Firebird is just one aspect of this eclectic program that I have put together to celebrate the dynamic vision of Mr. C," said Sklute. "The entire program, including Balanchine's Who Cares? and Kylian's Petite Mort are being presented to highlight Mr. C's vision of American dance and his forward thinking. Indeed, this entire 50th Anniversary season has been designed, in subtle ways, to honor all my predecessors' contributions to Ballet West and to pave the way for another 50 years of dance excellence."

Set to two movements from a pair of Mozart's most beloved Piano Concertos, Jiri Kylian's Petite Mort was created for the Salzburg Festival in commemoration of the second centenary of Mozart's death. This piece includes six men, six women, six fencing foils and enormous, billowing sheets of black silk. In an ingenious series of duets and group dances, Kylian poetically and abstractly presents the passion that men and women might have felt during Mozart's time behind the heavy restraints of their social mores. The work is considered world-wide to be a masterpiece of contemporary ballet.

Closing the program is George Balanchine's charming and vivacious Who Cares?. It uses some of Gershwin's most well-known melodies as the basis for syncopated group dances and balmy, romantic duets. Featured musical selections include "Strike Up the Band," "I Got Rhythm," "The Man I Love," and "Embraceable You." Balanchine used Gershwin's songs to portray an exuberance that is charged with the distinctive energy of Broadway while maintaining classical ballet purity.

The performances of The Firebird, Petite Mort and Who Cares? will be accompanied by the Utah Chamber Orchestra. Single tickets range from $25 to $75 and are available through ArtTix at www.arttix.org or by calling (801) 355-ARTS, or through KINGTIX at www.kingtix.com or by calling (801) 581-7100. Discounts are also available for groups of 15 or more by calling Ballet West at (801) 869-6900.

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