Ballet West is home to the country’s largest ballet education program

SALT LAKE CITY — Ballet West said it has the largest ballet education programs in the country. It now serves 148,000 students and teachers. 

According to a press release, the ballet company has seen a 35% increase in program participation since its last show season. 

A show season is determined as the period of time a performance company works to put on shows. For example, Ballet West will present a series of shows between October 2024 and May 2025 for its upcoming season. 

Dance education isn’t only for those who enroll in ballet lessons.

According to the dance company’s website, Student In-Theatre Performances are geared toward elementary and secondary school students. They begin with a presentation about the show that will be performed. 

Often, the pre-show presentations engage audience members. Then, students get to watch performances. 

During the 2023-24 season, Ballet West showed presentations to over 60,000 students. Of those viewers, 18,000 were in-person attendees to Student In-Theatre presentations of Dracula, The Firebird, The Nutcracker, Swan Lake, and Beauty and the Beast. 

An additional 43,000 students were able to view the presentations virtually. 

“Taught by professional dancers, students learn unique concepts found in each piece relating to educational concepts,” read the press release. 

Additionally, I Can Do programs work directly with schools to enhance Utah’s core curriculum standards. Per the company’s website, the program provides weekly hour-long classes at some schools. 

Fifth through ninth-grade students are all welcome to attend the classes. The I Can Do classes offer students a chance to present their work in an end-of-year showcase, per the website.

Ballet West dedicates hundreds of hours to education

The core of Ballet West’s mission is to promote Utah’s rich and diverse cultural heritage while advancing the art of ballet. 

“Exposure to this high degree of professionalism and artistry enables students to further their artistic intelligence and sensitivity to the art form,” said Peter Christie, the director of education and community outreach for Ballet West.  

The press release said that the ballet company spent over 1,300 hours providing dance education last season. 

Schools and teachers don’t have to be close to the company’s home, Capitol Theatre, either. According to Christie, the company has been making a “concerted effort” to utilize technology to reach more students. 

According to the press release, an increased demand for the company’s education programs has coincided with a rise in popularity in company performances. 

Related: Ballet West, Willam Christensen and the history of ballet in America