An Insider's Look...at the Ballet

Pictures courtesy of Shari Weber

We all know that Utah dancers are the cream of the crop, right? Utahns regularly compete on popular TV shows like Dancing with the Stars and So you Think you can Dance. There are probably many reasons to be proud of our local dancing talent but I've been mostly dance world illiterate.

Until now.
My eyes are opening because of the Covey Center for the Arts in downtown Provo.

On Saturday night I attended the Legend of Timpanogos Ballet. For those of you who are unfamiliar with the Wasatch Front, Utah County sits at the base of majestic Mount Timpanogos. Certainly many of the native Ute stories have been forever lost. But thanks to a very few people the Timpanogos legend, as told by Chief Walker, lives on in this glorious ballet.

Don't miss it.

Beyond being triumphantly gorgeous to watch, this ballet will inform our connection to where we live. Every Utah Valley citizen should see it.
The audience isn't allowed to film or photograph the ballet (for several reasons) which was KILLING me since I wanted documented proof that some people really can leap that high and extend that far. I've never seen such effortless lifts. Even from my seat in the balcony the willowy dancers looked six feet tall and as light as the Chieftain's feathers. (I was able to get these pictures thanks to Shari Weber who got permission for me to go back stage after the program was over.)

The set was really well done. My favorite scene is at the very end when spectacular things happen with the principal dancers and the set. (You have to see it!)

Tickets are available April 4th and 5th at 7:30 p.m. Call the Covey Center for the Arts box office at (801) 852-7007.

Me with the principal dancers Lindsay Duerfeldt and Christopher Young. Julius Chavez is the Chieftain.Jacqueline Colledge is the choreographer of Legend of Timpanogos and the founder of the Utah Regional Ballet. She is an incredible contributor to our community!

Signing out as a new ballet fan,

Raquel Smith Callis