Ballet West Guild

They’re baaack… Each year, Ballet West Guild hosts an annual Welcome Back Party for Ballet West Dancers & Staff in August when the dancers return from their Summer break. Guild members bring a lot of great home-cooked food and the dancers & staff have a chance to come back together, welcome new members, and enjoy a casual Summer evening.

Our Guild Member, Susan Eaton was front and center welcoming everyone. Thank you to our event chair Trisha Kirkbride for organizing this awesome gathering.

Image: Trisha Kirkbride

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Happy 250th Birthday USA!

Our guild member Tracy Frankel was on deck with Allison DeBona, Principal of the Peggy Bergmann Park City Campus of the Frederick Quinney Lawson Ballet West Academy, and dancers for the Main Street Park City Parade.

Whoop Whoop!

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Meet the Clayburn brothers!

Glen is our Vice President and Doyle is our Outreach Chair.

They provide great leadership for our Guild and help make our gatherings a lot FUN!

Learn more about Ballet West Guild and our efforts to support Ballet West’s artistic mission and educational outreach at balletwestguild.org.


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Ballet West Guild members Kelly Stephenson and Chris Morrison are planning an awesome Membership Party for October!

Watch for details coming soon.

We’re so excited for Ballet West’s 2026-27 Season! Check out all the ticket options at www.balletwest.org.

Learn more about Ballet West Guild and our efforts to support Ballet West’s artistic vision and educational outreach at balletwestguild.org.


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This Summer, We’re Reading...

Final Bow for Yellowface: Dancing between Intention and Impact
By Phil Chan, 2025

Phil Chan is co-founder of “Final Bow for Yellowface,” a movement to remove yellowface caricature and promote more authentic Asian representation in classical repertoire, including productions like The Nutcracker, La Bayadere, and Le Corsaire. Chan’s book includes his experience with Ballet West in re-staging Le Chant du Rossignol (“The Song of the Nightingale”) in 2019, a lost Balanchine work from 1925, and his work to face orientalism, cultural appropriation, and yellowface and guide the production into a New World democratic environment.

Amber Waves is a prominent work choreographed by Chan and performed by Ballet West at its 2024 “Choreographic Fest VI: Asian Voices” in Salt Lake City and a few weeks later at The Kennedy Center’s “10,000 Dreams: A Celebration of Asian Choreography,” curated by Chan.

Swan Dive: The Making of a Rogue Ballerina
By Georgina Pazcoguin, 2021

Georgina Pazcoguin is co-founder of “Final Bow for Yellowface” along with Phil Chan. Together, they started the conversation around the nation to change portrayals of Asians from caricature to more authentic and nuanced representations. Pazcoguin’s book is a love letter to the art of dance, her passion and journey to the School of American Ballet (SAB) and professional career at New York City Ballet. Along the way, she candidly speaks up against racism and mental and sexual abuse that is the dark side of the industry.

A sublime artist, Pazcoguin delighted Ballet West audiences with her guest performance as Anita in Ballet West’s April 2026 performances of Westside Story Suite as part of the Spring rep program “Broadway and Beyond.”

Phil Chan and Georgina Pazcoguin will join Ballet West Artistic Director Adam Sklute for a panel discussion following the screening of two films, About Face and Ten Times Better, as part of the Ballet West Summit Festival event on July 16, 2026 at the Jim Santy Auditorium at Park City Library. The event is free and open to the public, seats can be reserved through Park City Film at:
https://parkcityfilm.org/film/raising-voices-en-pointe/

Ballet West’s CHOREOGRAPHIC FEST VII: SPOTLIGHT UTAH opened last night at the Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center!

Ballet West Guild is always so delighted to BEE-HOLD our artists!

The program also features guest companies Ririe-Woodbury Dance Company, Repertory Dance Theatre, and SALT Contemporary Dance. Ballet West is performing world premieres from guest choreographers Donald Byrd, Tony-nominated artist, and Penny Saunders, award-winning choreographer.

Be sure to get your 2026-27 season tickets at www.balletwest.org

Learn more about Ballet West Guild and our initiatives to support Ballet West’s artistic mission and educational outreach at www.balletwestguild.org.

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Ballet West’s 2026-27 Season will celebrate Artistic Director Adam Sklute’s 20th season with the company!

We’re excited that the Spring rep program will include Nicolo Fonte’s “Carmina Burana” opening Friday, April 9, 2027.

For our annual Ballet In Bloom event, Pam March created this dramatic arrangement in anticipation of the upcoming production, complete with original poety!

Get your Ballet West season tickets at www.balletwest.org and experience the return of this favorite classic.

Learn more about Ballet West Guild and our initiatives to support Ballet West’s artistic mission and educational outreach at www.balletwestguild.org.



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Ballet West’s 2026-27 Season will celebrate Artistic Director Adam Sklute’s 20th season with the company!

We’re excited that the Spring rep program will include George Balanchine’s “Symphony in C,” opening Friday, April 9, 2027.

For our annual Ballet In Bloom event, Morgan Simkins of Native Flower Company created this glorious arrangement in anticipation of the upcoming production.

Get your Ballet West season tickets at www.balletwest.org and experience the return of this favorite classic.

Learn more about Ballet West Guild and our initiatives to support Ballet West’s artistic mission and educational outreach at www.balletwestguild.org.



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Ballet West’s 2026-27 Season will celebrate Artistic Director Adam Sklute’s 20th season with the company!

We’re excited that the winter story ballet will be “Don Quixote,” opening Friday, February 12, 2027.

For our annual Ballet In Bloom event, Marilyn Brumfield of Silver Cricket Floral Atelier created this elegant arrangement in anticipation of the upcoming production.

Get your Ballet West season tickets at www.balletwest.org and experience the return of this favorite classic.

Learn more about Ballet West Guild and our initiatives to support Ballet West’s artistic mission and educational outreach at www.balletwestguild.org.



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