Some of Broadway’s most iconic shows share surprising connections to the ballet world that will completely change how you experience live theater.
West Side Story revolutionized Broadway in 1957 when Jerome Robbins fused ballet technique with jazz and urban energy. But here’s what makes it extraordinary: when he later created West Side Story Suite for ballet in 1995, he added an unprecedented twist that only the most elite companies can attempt with dancers who actually sing while they dance.
It’s so technically demanding that companies must audition dancers’ vocal abilities and receive special permission from the Robbins and Bernstein estates.
When Peter Pan took flight on Broadway in the 1950s, ballet companies later reimagined that theatrical magic, transforming familiar songs into gravity-defying leaps and dancing artistry.
When Broadway Meets Ballet
Ballet West’s upcoming season offers something incredibly rare: the chance to experience both sides of Broadway and ballet in one place. Dancers trade pointe shoes for Converse sneakers and high heels in West Side Story Suite, singing “Cool,” “America,” and “Mambo,” while dancing complex choreography.
It’s so demanding that companies must audition dancers’ vocal abilities and receive special permission from the Robbins and Bernstein estates.
The Peter Pan ballet features Broadway-caliber costumes and such intricate aerial choreography that it requires an entire week dedicated solely to flying rehearsals. The production combines extensive dancing that demands tremendous athleticism that creates a magical adventure filled with pixie dust.
Ballet Turns Broadway into the Ultimate Love Story
The season unfolds with even more Broadway to ballet connections. When West Side Story opened on Broadway in 1957, it shared the same emotional story as Romeo and Juliet, which just so happens to be a ballet created in 1935 with feuding families, forbidden love, and tragic endings, but in completely different theatrical languages.
Coincidence? Whatever it is, audiences can see them both this season at Ballet West with Romeo and Juliet this October and West Side Story Suite in April. Add Peter Pan, The Nutcracker, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and The Legend of Sleepy Hollow for a complete journey into seeing timeless stories.
“This rare convergence of artistic excellence and theatrical innovation offers something truly special,” says Ballet West Artistic Director Adam Sklute. “The entire season is for everyone, whether you’re a lifelong musical theater fan or experiencing ballet for the first time.”
Creating a Broadway Ballet
When Ballet West brings West Side Story Suite to the stage, dancers will be joined by Utah native Robbie Fairchild, who represents the ultimate mastering of both arts forms at the highest professional level as a former Ballet West Academy student to New York City Ballet principal dancer and then as a Tony-nominated Broadway sensation in Cats and An American in Paris.
Broadway veteran Georgina Pazcoguin joins him as Anita, carrying coaching she received from Chita Rivera, the original Anita herself. These aren’t just talented performers; they’re artists who understand exactly what audiences love about Broadway translated into the language of dance.
Come see the stories you already love in a way you’ve never experienced before.
Season subscriptions offer the best value and exclusive behind-the-scenes access to witness these remarkable artistic transformations. Get your tickets at balletwest.org or call 801-869-6920.
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