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Amanda Butterfield reportingBallet West has been invited to a very prestigious dance festival next week on one of the world's most famous stages for ballet: the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.
The company has not performed on the Kennedy stage in 16 years, but this year it was invited to open the "Ballet Across America" festival with a beautiful number.
Ballet West's principal dancer has danced dozens of performances with the company all over the world. But the thought of next week's performance at the Kennedy Center gives her butterflies. "I'm very nervous! Ha! I'm very nervous," Christiana Bennett said.
Bennett has been with Ballet West for nine years. It was 16 years ago the group was last invited to "Ballet Across America," a festival perhaps lesser known, but well respected by dance companies.
"Really, what's so wonderful is it's trying to show the best of ballet across America that isn't necessarily in one of the major cities in America," said Adam Sklute, artistic director for Ballet West.
To top it off, these dancers will open the festival. "It's a huge honor for Ballet West to be going there," Bennett said.
The group is very familiar with the piece it will be opening with. It performed it here just a few weeks ago. "We will be performing 'Serenade' by George Balanchine, which is set to music by Tchaikovsky. It's beautiful ballet, one of the oldest ballets set here in America. The music and the movement is breathtaking," Bennett said.
Sklute says the dancers are at their peak. "I am so proud of these dancers, and they dance this ballet just beautifully," he said. "Personally, I think our dancers are dancing at an all-time high. They are a beautiful company."
Sklute says it will be great to be back at the Kennedy Center, a venue known around the world for dance. "The world and the world's stage deserves to see Ballet West up there, so I'm excited to bring this," he said.
Bennett is excited, too. "This is incredible and amazing to have this opportunity," she said.
The group leaves Monday and will be in Washington, D.C., the rest of the week. After that, its season is over until the fall.
For more information on "Ballet Across America," click the related link.
E-mail: abutterfield@ksl.com
