Ballet West Park City Academy performs The Nutcracker at PCHS Eccles Theater

The Academy at Ballet West's Park City location will perform multiple shows of The Nutcracker on December 20. Photo: Jess Zoerb.

PARK CITY, Utah — Ballet West Academy in Park City is performing the Nutcracker Suite on December 20, with two showings, one as a matinee and one at night. Tickets may be purchased here for $18 each.

Soloist Allison DeBona and her husband Rex Tilton retired from Salt Lake City-based Ballet West last year after 15 years of dancing together there. Now they are, together, running the Park City Ballet West, she as the Principal and he as the Operations Manager. They wanted to create an environment that they believe mimics what they’ve experienced in the SLC Company.

“Our curriculum is the best of the best,” DeBona said to TownLift. “And our students get to perform frequently. We’ve brought the essence of Ballet West to Park City, so families don’t need to drive down to Salt Lake to get the highest quality dance training.”

If you’re in the Academy, you’re in the Nutcracker. 35% of Ballet West Park City Academy students dance with financial support from the Solomon Fund.

Fund Founder Beano Solomon told TownLift, “I wouldn’t have moved to Utah if it didn’t have ballet and symphony/opera companies. The arts are fundamental to a good education and provides phenomenal physical activity. Ballet supplies both, and Ballet West’s Academy is a superb school. It even offers free lessons to old people like me who have never danced.”

Ballet West Park City Academy accommodates custom schedules therein. Registration is available here for adult classes. Classes are also available for three to 18 yr.-olds. DeBona points out that other athletes from sports like figure skating, skiing, and soccer enroll in any of the different disciplines of dance at the Academy, which improves their overall athleticism. She also recognizes and embraces the fact that many Park City families are part-time residents.

Register here for the Park City Academy.