As Ballet West celebrates a milestone season, newcomer (and New York City transplant) BalletNEXT is building up its corps in Park City. Here’s how a pair of professional companies are shining the local spotlight on ballet.  

Ballet West
The OG of the intermountain dance scene, Ballet West just wrapped up its 60th season with record-breaking sales and a legit, international presence. Now considered the ninth-largest classical ballet company in the world, the Salt Lake City-based outfit serves 1,000 local and international students across four ballet academies—one of which calls Park City home—while spotlighting a renowned corps of professional dancers on its home stage, the Capitol Theatre. 

“We do a broad spectrum of works, from old classics to new, cutting-edge creations … something I want to keep building and expanding,” explains Artistic Director Adam Sklute. In addition to downtown SLC shows, ranging from last year’s sold-out Swan Lake and edgy Fever Dream, the company regularly gains a little altitude with an annual Eccles Center performance in Park City. 

Notable upcoming shows for the 2024–25 season include Asian Voices, Jekyll and Hyde, and Cinderella (sweeping onto the stage with new sets and costumes). 

BalletNEXT
Blending live music and classically trained dancers, BalletNEXT is rooted in collaboration and experimentation across disciplines and cultures. Back in 2011, Michele Wiles, former principal dancer with American Ballet Theatre (ABT), launched the company in New York City, where she carved out a niche by pairing ballet dancers with diverse artists—such as Brooklyn flex dancer Jay Donn and legendary jazz artist Tom Harrell. After a stint as a guest choreographer and visiting professor at the University of Utah, Wiles fell in love with the mountains and moved her company to Park City in 2019. 

The company now features a trio of full-time professional dancers, often accompanied by the live music of String FX—a local, all-female group of string players—as well as accomplished guest performers. Diverse shows and workshops range from abbreviated, narrated, and freshly choreographed story ballets to contemporary pieces created by Wiles and guest choreographers, such as Mauro Bigonzetti and Brian Reeder. 

“I want to do this for the community. I want to create unique works, with unique collaborations and unique artists,” explains Wiles. “I say fun, accessible, and approachable, but the work is still world-class, high-level dancing and music.” 

BalletNEXT’s upcoming performances at the Jim Santy Auditorium and the Eccles Center—presented in partnership with Park City Library and Park City Institute (PCI) respectively—range from Swan Lake and Giselle to Mixed Repertory and Works in Process.