Aside from the gala, what special events are you planning for the 35th anniversary season?
A special dinner at Lake Las Vegas is planned just before the gala performance; we hope that many people will attend to help us celebrate. This year our season is a mixture of some of the more popular ballets over the last few years, along with a few special new pieces. In addition, in February, we are presenting a special all-Balanchine evening, Tchaikovsky to Gershwin. This is the first time we have had an entire evening of this major choreographer's works and are very proud that the Balanchine Trust has awarded us this opportunity.
You are responsible for a fair amount of the choreography for the company. Who has influenced you?
I've had many other choreographers and directors to influence my choreography—from Hans van Manen to Jiri Kylian. In my early professional years, I attended performances by the Royal Ballet in London and was able to see the true classics performed in a fantastic environment. It is that memory I carry with me when I choreograph a classical ballet.
What guest choreographers are scheduled for this year? Why did you decide on these particular dance-makers? Who is on your wish list?
Sir Fredrick Ashton, Val Caniparoli and Balanchine will be represented this year. Although Ashton and Balanchine are no longer with us, the ballet masters setting these works on Nevada Ballet Theatre worked closely with each choreographer, so the dancers will get a taste of what working with the original choreographer was like. Val Caniparoli will be working with us himself on Lambarena, a fusion of African dance and Western ballet, and the company is looking forward to his being here. He was here a few years ago to stage his Going for Baroque, and the company dancers still speak warmly of those rehearsals. For future seasons, my wish list is long. I guess I could say that my first choice is visionary choreographer Jiri Kylian of the Nederlands Dans Theater—an artist whose musicality combines with a profound exploration of the human psyche.
How has the company evolved since your arrival in 1998?
Our budget has increased substantially, and the company has grown from 23 dancers to 39. Our student population has also expanded. At the Academy, enrollment has grown from 76 students to over 600 and another 700-plus students are enrolled in our 25-week after-school community outreach program, Future Dance. Nationally, ballet companies have had difficulty in staying afloat. NBT seems to be going strong. What is it that you do differently from the others? We are fortunate that we have an extremely dedicated board whose members understand the workings of a ballet company, provide financial support and give generously of their time.
What do you see as the company's artistic strengths?
The company's dedicated dancers and its eclectic repertoire.
What's in store for the next 35 years?
New ballets, a new theater in the new Smith Center for the Performing Arts, an orchestra for all performances, international tours and continued success.