Ballet West: Innovations

Unlike many other dance disciplines—such as modern, contemporary or even jazz—ballet often doesn’t allow dancers many chances to stretch their choreographic en pointe legs. Ballet West’s spring performance showcase aims to fix that by providing an opportunity for company dancers to create their own work.

Innovations premieres several newly commissioned pieces. Alongside soloist Easton Smith and artist Aidan DeYoung, demi-soloist Emily Adams will present her new work, “Forces at Play,” which features seven dancers and is set to nine separate solo piano pieces performed live.

“The entire ballet is only about 11 minutes long, so each music selection is very short,” Adams says. “This appealed to me because I liked the idea of having an environment onstage that was constantly evolving … I would say that the ballet is about feeling as if you are swimming upstream having to fight the current and overcome obstacles, but approaching the task with determination and a sense of humor.”

Combined with those premieres will be an expanded version of principal artist Michael Bearden’s “Descent” and Susan Shields’ “Grand Synthesis.” For Adams, the chance to showcase her work in such a professional atmosphere is an exciting and much-appreciated occasion.

“I think it is pretty rare not just to choreograph on professionals, but to have the opportunity to experience the entire process from studio to stage,” Adams says. “Choreography is just the beginning. Then there’s costuming, lighting, organizing stage elements, etc. As someone who would like to continue choreographing in the future, Innovations provides invaluable experience.” (Jacob Stringer)