Ballet West (U.S.)

Ballet West was co-founded by Glenn Walker Wallace (1898-1988), a prominent musician and dancer, and Willem Christensen, a talented dancer, in 1962. Glenn Walker Wallace received many awards and honors, among which was an honorary degree from the University of Utah. Wallace believed that a city is only as big as it's cultural soul. No matter how big it grows physically, or economically; a city has a soul. If you live in a community, enrich it's life, contribute to it. Much of the programs of Ballet West were aimed at building a greater culture through the arts in Salt Lake City, Utah. Ballet West has taken several trips to Europe where they have performed for conferences and events. Ballet West also participated in the Salt Lake Ballet Guild, which raised money for Ballet West by creating the Telebash auction. Ballet West increased patronage and awareness of the arts further by creating a summer dance program for children.

From the guide to the Ballet West records, 1942-2007, (J. Willard Marriott Library, University of Utah)

Ballet West for Children was a community service activity of Ballet West which presented performances in elementary schools throughout the western United States.

From the guide to the Ballet West for Children records, 1975-1982, (J. Willard Marriott Library, University of Utah)

Ballet West is a professional ballet company founded in 1963 by Utah's "First Lady of the Arts" Glenn Walker Wallace and Willam F. Christensen, founder of the University of Utah's ballet department and Ballet West's first artistic director. The company has subsequently been led by artistic directors Bruce Marks, John Hart, Jonas Kåge and Adam Sklute. In addition to its annual season of performances at the Capitol Theatre in downtown Salt Lake City, Utah, Ballet West has toured the world several times with its classical ballet performances.

From the guide to the Ballet West promotional materials audio-visual collection, 1976-1987, (J. Willard Marriott Library, University of Utah)