By Roman Avramenko
A classical ballet and a performance style reminiscent of Cirque du Soleil melt together into a grandiose spectacle.
Ballet West opened their 2008-2009 season with William Shakespeare''s 'The Tempest' last week in the Capitol Theatre located 50 W. 200 South in Salt Lake City and plays through Nov. 15. Tickets are $18-72 and are available at the Capitol Theater ticket office, by calling 355-ARTS or online at www.arttix.org.
Students are eligible for two half-price tickets when they present their student ID in person one hour prior to the curtain.
Adam Sklute, the artistic director of Ballet West, said he wanted to open a new season with a giant spectacle and 'The Tempest' was the ballet that could deliver it on all levels: production, dancing and costuming.
This season will debut with 'The Tempest' on the Ballet West''s stage. It will expose the audience to a whole new world of ballet, but will still respect Ballet West''s classical heritage, Sklute said.
'''The Tempest'' is like a cross between grand ballet and Cirque du Soleil,' he said. 'It''s a spectacle and pageantry, we have flying dancers and shipwrecks on stage.'
He said this ballet is like no other ballet that people have seen and are used to in Utah.
The story of the ballet is filled with romance, mythological creatures, spirits and monsters.
Christiana Bennett, who performs the lead role of Miranda in the show, said there is something for everyone in this show, for adults and children alike.
'The funny sea monster and the pretty ballerinas who are dancing all together in unison,' Bennett said. 'There is also a lot of hard dancing that everyone can appreciate.'
She said it''s an American ballet. It was choreographed by the ballet master, Michael Smuin, a choreographer who is responsible for the Emmy-nominated ballet. Smuin was raised in Utah and was trained by the founder of Ballet West Willam Christensen.
According to the press release, an hour before the curtain, Ballet West offers 'Warm Ups.' 'Warm Ups' are informative discussions offered free of charge to ticket holders. During this discussion, members of the Ballet West artistic staff will be available to answer any questions that the audience may have.