(bright music) - Ballet West's production "Firebird" will include three different ballets that will make an epic evening of unforgettable dancing that honors the scope and vision of founder Willam Christensen.

Artistic director, Adam Sklute, is here with all of the details.

Adam, we love having you on the show.

- Oh, I always love coming on.

Thank you for having me.

- Yeah, I mean, Ballet West is such an anchor here in Salt Lake, and wow, 60 years.

- 60 years of this company.

Can you believe it?

It's wonderful.

And I am fortunate enough to have been here to celebrate both the 50th anniversary and now the 60th anniversary.

- So it's thrilling for me.

- And talk about Mr. C as he's affectionately called.

- Yeah.

Mr. C. So you know, he is known in the dance world as the godfather of American ballet.

That he really started a whole tradition in classical ballet here in the west.

And he and his brothers traveled across the country with vaudeville.

And then he founded the very first ballet company in America, the San Francisco Ballet.

He came back to Utah where he's from, born and raised in Brigham City, Utah.

Came back to Utah, founded the first fully accredited ballet department in any university, the University of Utah.

And out of that group, he created Ballet West.

- That's amazing.

So he does deserve this recognition.

And what a great way with "Firebird".

So dramatic.

The music of Stravinsky.

Tell us about this.

- Yeah, so the whole program is designed to honor him and his vision.

But it opens, the featured ballet is William Christensen's version of the "Firebird".

Great dramatic ballet, wonderful storytelling, magical.

But the two other works also celebrate him.

A new work by former company demi soloist, Joshua Whitehead and then closing with Balanchine's "Stars and Stripes".

And in the opening performance of "Ballet West" back in 1963 George Balanchine sent his two principal dancers, Melissa Hayden and Jacques Don Blouse to dance "Stars and Stripes" on that program.

So the whole thing is just designed as a proper tribute to Mr. C and his vision.

- How wonderful.

And I know that tickets start as low as $30 so anyone can go see this ballet.

Thank you so much for being here.

- Absolutely.

Thank you as always for having me.

- If you'd like to learn more about "Firebird" and Ballet West's performance it takes place November 3rd through the 11th at the Janet Quinney Lawson Capital Theatre.

Learn more and get tickets at balletwest.org.

That's balletwest.org.

I'm Laura Durham.

Thanks for watching "Contact".

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