Ballet West

Ballet West is an American ballet company founded in 1963 as the Utah Ballet by Willam Christensen, who had previously established the San Francisco Ballet Company. It became a professional company in 1963 and was renamed Ballet West in 1968. The company is known for staging full-length productions, including the first U.S. stagings of Coppélia, Swan Lake, and The Nutcracker.1

Ballet West is part of the broader growth of national ballet companies in North America that followed the influence of impresarios like Serge Diaghilev. While the United States does not have a single national ballet, companies like the New York City Ballet and American Ballet Theatre are prominent. These companies, along with Ballet West, contribute to the rich tapestry of American dance, often balancing classical traditions with contemporary works and exploring diverse themes.2345