Ballet West's 2009-10 season is defined by a sense of history and patriotism, two things not often associated with classical ballet. But when artistic director Adam Sklute was forced to tighten the organization's belt, he said he decided to look back and inward while continuing to raise the company's profile nationally.

Two performances on the coasts will kick off the company's season, giving national audiences the chance to see works that Utahns turned out for earlier this year. First up are Sept. 30 and Oct 1 performances at New York City Center, alongside Boston Ballet, Paul Taylor, Mark Morris and Alvin Ailey dance companies. The New York performances of the Ballets Russes' "Les Biches" will mark Ballet West's first New York appearances since 1981.

Then later that weekend, four company dancers will perform Ulysses Dove's "Red Angels" and other work at CaDance's Laguna Dance Festival.

The national attention comes in a year marked by staff furloughs and pay cuts, as Ballet West cut $1.2 million from its $7.5 million annual operating budget for the upcoming season, due to reduced corporate and foundation contributions.

Against that good news/bad news backdrop, Tribune dance critic Kathy Adams sat down with Sklute for an overview of the ballet company's upcoming season.

On the economy » "This past year was a difficult year around the world. It was inspiring the way our dancers, crew, orchestra, staff and administrators were all willing to make concessions. Our new board chair, Peter Meldrum, has assembled a strategic planning committee ... to create a five-year operating model that will allow us to grow and build artistically in a way that we can sustain financially. This is especially important right now as we explore new ways of moving forward during this challenging economic time."

On the company » "The company is strong from top to bottom, with a group of talented youngsters coming up from Ballet West II. I try to encourage and promote from within, while welcoming the best dancers from around the world at the same time; I think both are important. We are fortunate to have guest principal dancer Sarah Webb from Houston Ballet again to open the season, and through the gala. We have four principals (Christopher Ruud, Christiana Bennett, Romi Beppu, Michael Bearden), five soloists, four demi-soloists and 32 corps de ballet members."

On Ballet West's growing national profile » " There is a lot of buzz for the company right now. We are performing in New York City's 'Fall For Dance Festival' at City Center, and California's CaDance Festial. A stellar review of Ballet West in The New York Times , as well as being on the cover of Dance Magazine this year, brought BW national attention."

On the 2009-2010 season » "I've named the whole season 'Dare to Dream,' because it is all about the artistic roots of the organization at a time when we need theater and art more than ever."

On October's "The Dream," with choreography by Sir Frederick Ashton, based on Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream" » "'The Dream' hasn't been on our stage since the early 1990s, and Ashton's one-hour version is concise, funny, bright and charming. Then, Bruce Marks' 'Songs of the Valley' set to Aaron Copland's 'Old American Songs' incorporates music and story to celebrate Utah history in such a beautiful way. So, it seemed right to pair Ben Stevenson's abstract 'Three Preludes' with the two more narrative ballets. We have so many dancers that are right for Stevenson's choreography because of his line and quality of movement. Our women have beautiful, stunning line."

On November's gala » "We invite audiences to attend in tuxes or blue jeans. It is a one-night-only fundraiser that supports the company directly. It previews the season and showcases every dancer, starting with the academy through the principal dancers."

On December's "Nutcracker" » "Of course, in December we honor founder Willam Christensen's 'The Nutcracker,' which Ballet West has been performing for over 50 years. If all goes well, this year we will have seven casts."

On February's "Swan Lake" » "What I am personally most excited about is our newly staged 'Swan Lake.' It's a classic 'Swan Lake,' [with] some significant changes. The characterization of Odette [the swan queen] and Siegfried [the noble prince] will change. They are both complex individuals and I wanted to flesh them out. We have several productions [costumes, sets, props] that have sat in our warehouse over the years, and I've been working with our stage crew to mix and match and build something that will make it unique without the expense of mounting a new production. I am editing it down [shaving a half-hour]. Cynthia Gregory [whose American Ballet Theatre 1967 performance is recognized by many as the definitive 'Swan Lake'] will be coming in to coach the artists. She is a product of the Christensens from San Francisco, and she is very tall, and that works well with our aesthetic here. I don't consider myself a choreographer so I am calling myself a producer, so 'Swan Lake' is conceived of and produced by Adam Sklute."

On April's "Balanchine's America" » "His beautiful 'Serenade' is the first ballet Balanchine ever created on American soil. 'Agon' is an abstract work, but the literal translation of the word agon is 'competition' or 'duel.' It has a constant sense of striving and competition, which Balanchine considered to be very American qualities. And, of course, 'Stars and Stripes' is the quintessential showstopper. At face value it seems a little campy and fun, but it is a real true classical ballet. It has a grande pas de deux, variations, coda -- and all done to John Philip Sousa marches."

On May's "Innovations" » "This year, I have opened it up to local choreographers. I try to expand and build on what 'Innovations' is. Anyone who has choreographed, or even has an idea -- I am open. I want to collaborate with the community and with artists as well. Next year, I might get to start commissioning local artists to design sets and costumes. We still have members of Ballet West submitting pieces, and this year the professional choreographer is Helen Pickett."

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