Film Screening with the Utah Film Center.
Behind the Scenes: Ballet West in The Nutcracker
60 min | 2019 | USA | Not Rated
Post-film Q&A with dancers and representatives of Ballet West.
Ballet West founder Willam Christensen (“Mr. C”) staged the very first full-length production of the now-beloved The Nutcracker on Christmas Eve in 1944, at the San Francisco Ballet. Ballet West now carries on Mr. C’s legacy with its annual presentation of his Nutcracker, now the longest-running production of the ballet in the United States.
To celebrate the 75th anniversary of Mr. C’s The Nutcracker, Ballet West, in collaboration with BYUtv, produced this documentary program chronicling the history of the first Nutcracker in America. The program features excerpts of the award-winning ballet performance and highlights the role of Mr. C in this incredible story, rooted in Utah.
Fondly remembered as the “grandfather of American ballet,” Mr. C (1902-2001) was born and raised in Brigham City, Utah. A true pioneer in dance, he established the San Francisco Ballet, the oldest professional ballet company in the U.S., in 1938. He then returned to Salt Lake City, Utah, founding both the ballet department at the University of Utah in 1951, the first of its kind, and Ballet West in 1963. His historical production of The Nutcracker sparked a long-lasting cultural phenomenon that continues today, transcending generations to become a holiday tradition for millions of Americans each year.
World Premiere
NOTE: The Main Library's Rooftop Terrace is closed through 2020 for repairs and renovations.
Salt Lake City's Main Library, designed by internationally-acclaimed architect Moshe Safdie in conjunction with VCBO Architecture, opened in February 2003 and remains one of the most architecturally unique structures in Utah. This striking 240,000 square-foot structure houses more than 500,000 books and other materials, yet serves as more than just a repository of books and computers. It reflects and engages the city's imagination and aspirations. The structure embraces a public plaza, with shops and services at ground level, reading galleries above, and a 300-seat auditorium.
A multi-level reading area along the Glass Lens at the southern facade of the building looks out onto the plaza with stunning views of the city and Wasatch Mountains beyond. Spiraling fireplaces on four floors resemble a column of flame from the vantage of 200 East and 400 South. The Urban Room between the Library and the Crescent Wall is a space for all seasons, generously endowed with daylight and open to magnificent views.
